‘NAB should consider merits of the case, not get involved in politics’

SHC directs NAB to vet the complainant in the case against former federal minister

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday to vet the complainant in the case against former federal minister Zafar Ali Laghari. A two-member bench headed by SHC Chief Justice (CJ) Ahmed Ali Shaikh and comprising Justice Omar Sial heard the two pleas filed by Laghari - his bail plea and the plea against NAB inquiry.

Accused Laghari appeared before the court in a wheel chair. The accused’s counsel argued that NAB had initiated the inquiry over a complaint filed by a political worker.

The court asked the NAB investigation officer (IO) on whose complaint  investigation was initiated against Laghari. The IO said that the investigation was initiated  over the complaint filed by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf worker Ghulam Mustafa Soomro.

Expressing annoyance with the authorities, CJ Shaikh remarked that the standards of NAB had fallen so low that it was initiating investigations over a complaint filed by a political worker.

CJ Shaikh remarked that would NAB begin to disrespect people in this way? “Why are you after your own national institution,” he asked.

“Where was PTI’s honest person up till now?” asked CJ Sheikh. He asked about the complainant’s source of income. “Did NAB investigate about it? NAB should consider merits of the case instead of getting involved in politics.”

The court sought a report from NAB in two weeks and directed NAB to investigate the complainant.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2019.