SHC rejects NAB’s response regarding pending inquiries

Remarks that inquiries are left pending for years and people are made to suffer

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) rejected on Thursday the response submitted by the Additional Prosecutor-General and Operations DG, while expressing annoyance over not submitting the complete report regarding the delay in inquiries and investigations being conducted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A two-member bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh and comprising Justice Omar Sial, was hearing the case pertaining to delayed NAB inquiries and investigations. The court expressed annoyance with the NAB for not submitting the complete report regarding its delayed inquiries and investigations. When the judges inquired which old inquiry the NAB was working on, the NAB officials failed to give a satisfactory answer.

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The additional prosecutor-general maintained that they had completed 50% of the inquiries. The court ordered him to answer the question he had been asked. “Tell us the number of inquiries before the court which are the oldest and still pending,” said CJ Shaikh. “Why are the inquiries facing delays for such a long time? Some inquiries continue for 10 years and are then closed. Who is responsible for wasting 10 years of the person? Who will bring back all these years for them? Do you have any idea what people go through?” asked the judge.

The additional prosecutor-general maintained that he had attended a high-profile meeting of the NAB and that the list of inquiries will be presented before the court.

The court rejected the response submitted by the NAB’s additional prosecutor-general and Operations DG and sought complete details by September 5.

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The SHC again ordered the NAB authorities to submit a report after filing the reference against former provincial minister, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, and others by October 3.

The same bench was hearing the corruption case against former provincial minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and others. The NAB prosecutor maintained that the legal department had raised some objections to the reference, which is why it had been sent back to the headquarters.

The court ordered the NAB to submit a report after filing the reference by October 3 and also extended Lanjar’s bail. The accused committed corruption and abused his authority. The former provincial minister misappropriated the funds meant for Nawabshah Medical College Medical and other schemes.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2019.