ISLAMABAD : Supreme Court (SC) has admitted for preliminary hearing the amended petition from Imran Khan against NAB laws.
The petition came up for hearing before a 3-member bench of SC presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial here Thursday.
Khawaja Haris counsel for Imran Khan argued during the hearing of the case it has been made next to impossible to prove accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income as crime due to the recent amendments made in NAB laws. Earlier action was taken if no justification was given on accumulation of assets. Following the amendments made in the NAB laws action will only be taken if it is proved that the assets have been made through ill gotten money. It is not necessary that the income which has not been shown is illegal. Not showing income or assets is not NAB specific crime.
SC ordered the federal and provincial governments to legislate in Corona suo motu notice. We have filed our written submissions. I will like to place before the court those amendments which run contrary to the constitution prima facie. I will open my arguments formally on next hearing.
Makhdoom Ali Khan counsel for the federal government told the court he will submit detailed reply on amended petition. I have filed amended petition. It will be better that they be issued notices so that its reply comes.
The CJP remarked it is fact that people don’t show complete assets and income in tax returns. If counsel for federal government wants so he can raise the point of the petition as objectionable.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked no law can be nullified on being against the principles of policy making. There should be law against gambling and narcotics according to principles of policy. The court can give what order if there is no law against the gambling.
The court while admitting Imran Khan amended petition for hearing adjourned the hearing of the case till the week starting from September 26.
