LAHORE, Oct 19: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is unlikely to contest the right of the jailed MNAs and MPAs-elect to attend inaugural sessions of the assemblies.

PML-N acting-president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi is the only MNA-elect in Punjab to have contested the polls from jail.

Sources said all those detained in NAB cases would have to seek the permission of NAB authorities to attend the inaugural session of the National Assembly and take oath. It was learnt that the prosecution might withdraw its right to oppose such applications.

However, the NAB would reserve the right to contest the applications of these individuals for attendance at subsequent sessions of the assembly if the dates of those sessions coincided with court hearings.

According to sources, no code of conduct has yet been issued by the NAB authorities in Islamabad for disallowing discussions on personal cases of the detainees in the assemblies.

NAB deputy prosecutor general Javed Shaukat Malik confided to Dawn that the NAB would impose the condition that imprisoned legislators be taken to assemblies under its custody. He disclosed that police officials would remain deputed at the assembly hall during the inaugural session to preempt any attempt of the detainees to flee.

He said no other relaxation would be allowed to the elected NAB detainees, who would have to move the high courts for bail for complete freedom of movement. He mentioned that under the law, they would cease to hold membership of the assemblies in case of conviction.