CJP terms NAB amendments as doubtful

Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial Wednesday made important remarks regarding the amendment of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law.

According to details, the hearing on the NAB appeal against order to inform Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Javed Latif before his arrest was headed by Chief Justice.

NAB Prosecutor Rizwan Sati said that decision to inform the accused before arrest is against the law, the NAB amendment has been applied in the past.

Chief Justice Umar remarked that Javed Latif's case was at the inquiry stage, at that time arrest could not be made.

The NAB prosecutor replied: “After the amendment of July 3, 2023, arrest may also be made during the inquiry,” on which Justice Umar Atta Bandial said NAB amendments made in July are doubtful as they are in conflict with the court decisions.

Umar Atta Bandial inquired how can a person called for questioning be put in jail. The NAB Act was draconian till 2001, the amendments to the NAB Act to reduce the period of remand and to grant bail are good.

Justice Athar Minallah remarked that NAB law can be interpreted only in the context of court decisions and the constitution.

The Supreme Court dismissed NAB's appeal against the order to inform the accused before arrest and remarked that the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was before the July 03 amendment.