ISLAMABAD: During the hearing on a plea challenging amendments to the NAB law, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the NAB law has been misused against business figures. A three-member bench, headed by CJP Bandial and including Justice Ejazul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, conducted the hearing. PTI leader Imran Khan filed the petition during the PDM-led government.
During the hearing, the CJP raised concerns about recent amendments to the NAB law, particularly the abolition of the status of evidence obtained under mutual legal cooperation. He noted that evidence obtained from abroad was now inadmissible under the law, raising questions about who would benefit from these changes.
A report detailing the return of references following the NAB amendments was also submitted during the hearing. Notably, references such as the Park Lane case against former President Asif Zardari and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were among those returned by accountability courts. The report also mentioned the transfer of cases involving individuals from NAB’s jurisdiction.
The discussion also touched on the rights of complainants in Pakistan’s legal system, with the focus primarily on the rights of the accused and ensuring a fair trial. Additionally, it was noted that information obtained by the FBR from abroad could not be presented as admissible evidence in court, placing the burden of proving such evidence on NAB.
Chief Justice Bandial emphasized the importance of delivering justice, particularly in criminal cases, where conviction rates were below 70%, highlighting that providing justice was a fundamental function of the state.
The ongoing legal debate raises questions about the balance between the rights of the accused and the interests of justice in Pakistan’s legal system, particularly in the context of NAB amendments.
