NAB imposes immediate ban on transfers, postings 

Islamabad: Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has imposed an immediate ban on all kind of appointments and transfers in the organization.  

According to details, the NAB chairman has also ordered to stop implementation of recently announced posting and transfers of officers to different regional offices in the country.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court banned the appointment and transfer of officers in high profile criminal cases during the hearing of suo motu notices by the government on interference in the affairs of investigative agencies.

A five-judge larger bench, comprising Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Bandial Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar heard the case and issued notices to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director-general, NAB chairman, interior secretary, advocate general, and head of the prosecution department—demanding an explanation about interference in prosecution.

Chief Justice Omar Ata Bandial remarked that it should be stated on what basis the appointments and transfers of investigating officers in the cases of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz were made.  

Following the proceedings, the court directed the FIA, and NAB to seal records of prosecution and investigations in high-profile cases. While, the authorities have been asked to inform the court about the relevant measures to secure the record.

Apart from issuing orders against withdrawing any case from the courts until further orders the court also sought details of the names included and withdrawn from the Exit Control List (ECL) .

CJP Bandial said that newspaper clippings indicated that thousands of names were removed from the no fly list and at least 3,000 people benefitted following modifications in ECL rules.

The proceedings were meant to protect the ‘rule of law’ and ‘criminal justice system’, remarked court, adding that they were not intended at embarrassing or accusing someone.

He also expressed the hope that the federal government would cooperate in providing an explanation.

The court noted that the FIA prosecutor had filed a written application, stating that he had been asked, not to appear in the money laundering case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza.   

The chief justice also raised questions regarding the transfers of DG FIA Sanaullah Abbasi and FIA Lahore Chief Dr Rizwan, who later passed away.

Expressing concerns, the court stated that such perceived interferences may influence the prosecution of cases, tampering, disappearing of evidence and transfer and postings of officers.