ISLAMABAD
\nWhile disposing of a petition of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Ahad Cheema on the basis of withdrawal, the Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday reprimanded the NAB for keeping Ahad Cheema in prison for three years and stressed the need for a halt to the misuse of the NAB laws.
\nA three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, heard the NAB plea. \u201cAfter keeping Ahad Cheema in prison for three years, [now] the NAB has found out that no reference was needed against him,\u201d the SC expressed indignation.
\n\u201cThe use of the NAB law for nefarious purposes should be stopped. The NAB was used mercilessly against individuals in violation of fundamental rights. It was used as a tool against certain individuals,\u201d it added.
\n\u201cThe NAB kept Ahad Cheema in jail for three years. It sought adjournment in the Ahad Cheema case 24 times in the High Court. The NAB\u2019s conduct was explained in detail by the High Court in its verdict, but the NAB challenged the same verdict in the Supreme Court,\u201d Justice Athar Minallah expressed indignation.
\n\u201cEven after keeping a person in prison for years, the NAB says that nothing was found in investigations. The NAB should tell why it increased the burden of cases by filing this petition. Ahad Cheema was innocent because no crime was proved against him,\u201d he remarked.
\n\u201cIn several cases, the NAB says that it is withdrawing the case after keeping the accused in jail,\u201d Justice Jamal Mandokhail expressed displeasure. \u201cThe accused should file a case against the NAB after serving in prison for so many years. Why does the NAB have unlimited power to file cases against anyone?\u201d he questioned.
\n\u201cAhad Cheema\u2019s case has gone out of the NAB\u2019s jurisdiction after the NAB amendments. The NAB again investigated Ahad Cheema\u2019s case and found out that no reference was needed against him,\u201d the NAB prosecutor told the court.
\n\u201cIt is good that the accused have been given the right to bail after the NAB amendments. Ahad Cheema was kept in jail by the NAB since 2018 only for the purpose of investigation. The NAB has become an instrument of abuse due to the misuse of powers,\u201d the CJP remarked.
\n\u201cThe then chairman of the NAB is responsible for all this,\u201d Justice Athar Minallah said. \u201cNow Ahad Cheema has become a federal minister,\u201d the NAB special prosecutor told the court. \u201cHas he become dear to the NAB after becoming a minister?\u201d Justice Mandokhail questioned.
\n\u201cWhat is NAB doing with bureaucracy? Brig (r) Asad Munir committed suicide due to the NAB reference. The NAB wrote in its report about Brig (r) Asad Munir that he was a trustworthy person. Who will compensate the NAB\u2019s misconduct?\u201d Justice Athar Minallah questioned.
\n\u201cWe know that the NAB takes action against certain people only,\u201d Justice Mandokhail remarked. \u201cIt is sad that the process of accountability has been tainted. Those with powers should know that this is the trust of the nation,\u201d the CJP said.
\n\u201cGive me some time, I will submit a report on this,\u201d the NAB special prosecutor said to the court. \u201cThis case has to be made an example for the NAB. Former president Pervez Musharraf created the NAB for political engineering. The NAB is now proving why this law of Pervez Musharraf was made,\u201d Justice Athar Minallah said.
\n\u201cThe NAB once summoned a chartered accountant friend of mine to record his statement and asked him to come tomorrow after making him wait for five hours,\u201d the CJP said. \u201cMaking someone wait for no reason is an abuse of power by the NAB,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cEven in the case of murder, the accused has the right to bail after two years. Blue rooms and dark rooms have been built in the NAB which are for various political cases. It is unfortunate for the NAB that I am aware of their system,\u201d Justice Mandokhail said.
\n\u201cThe court is wondering who should be fined in this case. We do not want the state to pay us the fine. The state had trusted the NAB. The lawyers should protest against the NAB for taking up such cases,\u201d the CJP remarked.
\n\u201cThe government will run if the institutions are stable. It is our responsibility to bring stability to the institutions. The NAB should improve its performance legally,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD While disposing of a petition of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Ahad Cheema on the basis of withdrawal, the Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday reprimanded the NAB for keeping Ahad Cheema in prison for three years and stressed the need for a halt to the misuse of the NAB laws. A three-member SC […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-351658","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n