Summons: LHC directs NAB to file reply on ex-PM’s petition

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a written reply about the information it had sought from former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for alleged irregularities in appointments in Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco).

A division bench, headed by Justice Abdul Sami Khan, passed the order on a petition filed by Ashraf. During the hearing, Iftikhar Shahid appeared on behalf of the petitioner and said that the NAB was issuing frequent notices to his client. “This is against settled principles. If the NAB need any information, it should have informed my client in writing that what information it requires,” he said.

NAB special prosecutor Zahid Minhas said that the information the bureau needed had been clearly mentioned in the notice. He also produced a copy of the notice. However, the bench asked the prosecutor to submit a detailed written reply. The court then put off further hearing until September 6.

Previously, the LHC had turned down Ashraf’s request to set aside summons issued by the NAB. The court had however directed the NAB not to take any illegal action against him.

The judge had remarked that the NAB cannot be stopped from probing into the issue.

Through Advocate Iftikhar Shahid, Ashraf had informed the court that the NAB had issued summons for him in connection with an inquiry into bogus recruitments in the Pepco and the Gepco. He stated that the NAB action amounted to political victimisation at the behest of the ruling party.

He said that he had not influenced any appointments. “The NAB has been playing in the hands of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership. It is subjecting Pakistan Peoples Party leaders to political victimisation,” he said.

Ashraf said that he had asked the NAB to furnish details of the allegations against him. “However, the bureau keeps issuing me summons without disclosing any reason,” he said. The former prime minister pleaded that he was being dragged into the scandal over baseless allegations. He had requested the court to set aside the notices/summons issued by the NAB for being illegal.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.