NAB controversy: LHC dismisses petition against prime minister
Bureau tells court it functions autonomously
Lahore High Court. PHOTO: LHC.GOV.PK
LAHORE:
Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday dismissed a petition accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of meddling in the affairs of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after the latter replied that it functioned autonomously.
In its reply, the NAB said that it had never been subjected to pressure by any individual or institution with regard to its functions. The bureau said that it probed various matters impartially and without any intervention. The NAB said that it would take action against any individual irrespective of their standing.
The court dismissed the petition after reviewing the reply. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI’s) Gohar Nawaz Sindhu had filed the petition against the prime minister. The petitioner had told the court that Sharif had “warned” the NAB chairman in a public address and tried to influence the anti-corruption watchdog’s operations.
Sindhu had said that the prime minister’s statement violated the law as he was trying to protect those accused of financial malpractice. He had told the court that the NAB was autonomous and empowered to probe allegations of corruption against any individual. Sindhu had said that Sharif’s statement amounted to making a mockery of the law. He said such an individual was not worthy of holding the office of the prime minister. Sindhu had requested the court to restrain the prime minister from meddling in the NAB’s affairs.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2016.
Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday dismissed a petition accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of meddling in the affairs of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after the latter replied that it functioned autonomously.
In its reply, the NAB said that it had never been subjected to pressure by any individual or institution with regard to its functions. The bureau said that it probed various matters impartially and without any intervention. The NAB said that it would take action against any individual irrespective of their standing.
The court dismissed the petition after reviewing the reply. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI’s) Gohar Nawaz Sindhu had filed the petition against the prime minister. The petitioner had told the court that Sharif had “warned” the NAB chairman in a public address and tried to influence the anti-corruption watchdog’s operations.
Sindhu had said that the prime minister’s statement violated the law as he was trying to protect those accused of financial malpractice. He had told the court that the NAB was autonomous and empowered to probe allegations of corruption against any individual. Sindhu had said that Sharif’s statement amounted to making a mockery of the law. He said such an individual was not worthy of holding the office of the prime minister. Sindhu had requested the court to restrain the prime minister from meddling in the NAB’s affairs.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2016.