ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa took the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to task on Thursday and remarked that people were under mental pressure owing to the attitude of the bureau.
The top judge heard a plea filed by the bureau against the acquittal of a cashier Ataullah in a corruption case and questioned whether the bureau was supposed to make cases only.
“What does the NAB do after all? Is NAB’s sole purpose to make cases?” he wondered.
Heading a three-judge bench, the top judge observed that NAB should think about how its only purpose is not to make cases. He expressed that the bureau must attach tangible evidence to prove its case.
The suspect, who was accused of corruption as a cashier at National Bank, was acquitted by a high court four years ago and NAB had challenged the acquittal in the apex court.
However, the chief justice remarked during the hearing that for 19 years, the suspect was being troubled.
“NAB’s purpose is also to prove a case and have a suspect punished,” the top judge remarked and dismissed plea filed by the anti-graft body.
In another case, the top court rejected an appeal by NAB against a high court order regarding a deputy superintendent of police Jahan Khan in assets beyond means case.
The top court said that a trial court had given the suspect a ten-year sentence and fined him adding that in light of the evidence, a high court had revoked the trial court verdict and acquitted the suspect.
The apex court clarified that the high court order was on the basis of the law and of evidence, rejecting NAB’s request and upholding the high court order.
The SC noted that the suspect had received 120 Kanal of property from his father, mother and sister; during the hearing, the top judge remarked that NAB had written that the suspect had over Rs8 million in assets and had bought a property worth Rs4.6 million.
The top judge expressed displeasure at the accountability bureau and said that NAB should be fined for this.
“Who will be accountable for the 18 years that NAB has bugged Jahan Khan?” the chief justice inquired.
