SC accepts NAB’s appeal against PHC decision

The Supreme Court on Monday accepted the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeal for hearing against the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision in a case pertaining to filing of more than one reference against a government official.

The case was heard by a three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

The NAB had filed three references against 25 accused including the Peshawar Development Authority DG on corruption charges.

The PHC had directed the anti-graft watchdog to file supplementary references and declared its two references null and void.

Noting that the anti-graft buster had filed three references, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah inquired how could the NAB register more than one case against the accused.

He observed that when the accused was granted bail after two years, the anti-corruption watchdog had filed the second reference.

The NAB counsel argued that there was no restriction in the law on filing a second reference.

Justice Bandial observed that references were filed with a gap of a week.

Commenting on the matter, Justice Shah remarked the PHC had stated that supplementary and not new references should be filed.

Justice Yahya Khan Afridi inquired whether the NAB had issued warrants against each reference for the accused.

Justice Bandial sought assurance from the NAB that it would not misuse the authority to file a reference.

The hearing of the case was adjourned for an indefinite period.