ISLAMABAD: The honorable judge of the Supreme Court has remarked why Pakistan’s forces were kept out of the NAB law.
A three-member special bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal, heard the petition of Imran Khan against the NAB amendments.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan said that there is no one left who has not been exempted from the NAB law, the decisions of the Tehsil Council Chairman and Vice Chairman have also been exempted.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that apparently the officers have been given the freedom to make decisions as public officials.
Lawyer Imran Khan Khawaja Haris said that more than eight billion was recovered from such decision makers in the past. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked whether the recovery was done by public officials.
Khawaja Haris replied that there was a recovery from money grabbers for public officials.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that every official decision benefits some section or the other.
Khawaja Haris said that there is no wrongdoing as long as the benefit is not illegal, it is wrong not to take action against a certain officer for giving illegal benefit, now NAB cannot lay hands on any regulatory authority and government company.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that why the Pakistan Army has been kept out of the reach of the NAB law, all the big businesses in the country are owned by them. Raised, according to the law, even judges are not exempted, if there is any veil regarding judges, it is a separate matter, there are other institutions for accountability.
Khawaja Haris said that through the NAB amendments, the crimes of assets in excess of income and misuse of powers were eliminated.
The Chief Justice said that it is not enough that the assets are more than the income, corruption or dishonesty in the assets is also necessary.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that a court should come tomorrow and say that assets in excess of income should be executed.
The Chief Justice told Khawaja Haris that there is a balance about basic human rights, there are rights of common citizens, on the other hand there are also basic rights of national interest and society, there should be a balance between the two, you should get benefit from each individual. are linking with the rights of the society, what will happen if the cases go to other forums, we need support on this, how NAB law is harmful to the public interest, this question is important.
The lawyer replied that the limit of action of NAB on corruption can be reduced from fifty crore rupees to ten crore rupees, our objection is to apply the NAB law from the past.
The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing till Monday on the petition of Tehreek-e-Insaf against the recent amendments in the NAB law.
