NAB’s naïve enthusiasm

Media has once again done a commendable job by bringing to light conditions prevailing in the lock-up of the National Accountability Bureau. After former vice chancellor of Punjab University Prof Mujahid Kamran described the conditions in the lock-up of NAB in an interview on the electronic media that the Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR), Justice (Retd) Ali Nawaz Chowhan, wrote a letter to the NAB Chairman, Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal, asking him to ensure that people under NAB custody should not be humiliated. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has taken suo-motu notice of the NAB’s act.

In the interview, Prof Kamran claimed there were CCTV cameras in washrooms of the NAB lock-up. It is common knowledge that the former VC was produced in court handcuffed. The NCHR said all this was unacceptable. It said Prof Kamran is a senior citizen and producing him in court in handcuffs was unjustified. It also described the allegation of CCTV cameras in washrooms disturbing. It said Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, backed the allegations levelled against NAB. NAB officials, however, denied the allegation.

The NCHR chairman has asked the NAB chairman to take corrective measures. He has rightly said basic human. rights cannot be curtailed even if someone is put into jail. It is universally acknowledged that all individuals should be treated with dignity and honour.

In the whole episode of Prof Mujahid the worst was when he was produced in court in handcuffs. It was reprehensible to treat an academic in such a humiliating way. This should not be repeated and this should never have been done. Academics should be accorded all respect.

However, it is naïve to produce accused in court in handcuffs as it evokes sympathy for them and makes heroes out of villains.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2018.

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