SC decision: NAB presents record of restored cases in court

Islamabad: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutors assured to present all the records of cases in the accountability courts in the light of Supreme Court's decision, after which NAB Thursday team reached accountability court with the records of cases, reportedly.

According to media reports, preparations are being made to send the cases back to the accountability courts after NAB cases have been restored as a result of Supreme Court decision in NAB amendment case.

It is reported that records of all NAB cases will be presented in the accountability court today and in this regard, the staff of accountability court no. 2 and 3 have been called back to duty. Earlier, the staff of these courts were appointed in other courts when there were no judges.

New judges of Accountability Court No. 2 and 3 will also be appointed. Currently Judge Muhammad Bashir is hearing NAB cases in Accountability Court No. 1.

It is stated that accountability court registrar's office sent the list of NAB cases to the court and NAB prosecutor informed that the records of the cases will be presented in some time. To which Judge Muhammad Bashir said: “Today NAB will be loaded with a truck of cases record”.

On the other hand, Judge Muhammad Bashir of Accountability Court Islamabad directed the NAB prosecutors to review the legal aspects of the NAB cases.

Responding to which the NAB prosecutors confirmed that the records of the cases will be reached accountability court today.

NAB prosecutors Sohail Arif and Sardar Muzaffar appeared in the accountability court and told: “We are going to the NAB headquarters for some time, there is a meeting on the recovery of cases”.

On this, the judge said the nature of the cases of private, public office holders and government employees is different, you have to tell which case can be heard and which jurisdiction is not.

NAB Prosecutor Muzaffar Abbasi said that they will present the records of all NAB cases in the accountability court.

Later, the NAB team reached the accountability court with the records of the cases. On which the accountability court directed the registrar to review and present the records of the cases by 1:00pm.

Supreme Court's decision on NAB amendments

Supreme Court said in its decision that petition against NAB amendments is declared admissible. The clause to exclude references up to 500 million from the scope of NAB is null and void. However, the clauses to file reference against the Service of Pakistan are maintained.

In its decision, the court said that cases of all persons sitting in public positions are restored. NAB amendments related to the termination of reference of public positions are declared null and void. The first amendment of section 10 and 14 of the NAB amendments is null and void.

The court said that NAB amendments made regarding the plea bargain are declared invalid. The orders given by the accountability courts in the light of NAB amendments are declared invalid.

It was decided by the court that rights enshrined in the constitution of public interest were affected by the NAB amendments. All investigations and inquiries closed under the NAB amendments should be restored.

It is pertinent to note that Parliament had amended Sections 2, 4, 5, 6, 25 and 26 of the NAB Act, in addition to Sections 14, 15, 21 and 23 of the NAB Act.