PESHAWAR, Sept 16: The National Accountability Bureau is holding a seminar entitled "Plea bargain: concept and controversy, a review," at its regional office here on Sept 20.

NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah will be the chief guest at the opening session.

The seminar will be addressed by former Senate chairman Wasim Sajjad, ex-MNA Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani and ANP's Afrasiab Khattak, besides prominent scholars, jurists, legal experts and public representatives.

NAB Chairman Munir Hafeez and the Attorney-General of Pakistan would also attend the seminar. The seminar aims at allaying misconceptions of the people about 'Plea bargain', identifying the shortcomings and elicit public opinion for further strengthening of the concept.

It is also aimed at providing an opportunity to get an impartial opinion on plea bargain with a view to bring about further improvement in the execution of this concept.

Jurists' input on the concept of plea bargain will help in streamlining the procedure as it is one of the instruments for combating corruption in society. Since its creation in 1999, the NAB has successfully recovered Rs4.622 billion for the national exchequer through plea bargain.