IHC seeks details of NAB, FBI MoU

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a notice to the federal government against the agreement between the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), seeking a reply within two weeks.

Justice Amir Farooq heard the plea filed by Advocate Tariq Asad on behalf of civil society.

Deputy Attorney General Syed Tayyab Shah appeared before the court on behalf of the federation appeared.

The petitioner's lawyer asked, “If we need training, then why only from the FBI?”

The court asked the petitioner's lawyer as to why the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed.

The lawyer apprised the court that the reasons for the approval of the MoU by the cabinet are not known.

The court inquired, "Do you have a copy of the MoU? What is written in the MoU?"

The lawyer replied that he did not know, but if the court could get the MoU, the details could be know. “Approval of such an agreement with the FBI is a violation of Pakistani law,” the lawyer said.

The court issued notices to the secretaries of defence, foreign affairs as well as law and justice seeking their response and directed the deputy attorney general to inform the court with instructions at the next hearing.

The court adjourned the hearing till February 11. It may be recalled that the federal cabinet had approved the agreement between NAB and the FBI on December 26.