Plea bargain: action sought against reappointed officials

Petitioner seeks action against those serving in govt depts after NAB deals

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court has sought reply by November 4 from the establishment secretary, chief secretary and the National Accountability Bureau over a petition seeking suspension from service of 195 government officials who had entered into plea bargains under the NAB laws.

The petitioner’s counsel contended that there was a judgment of the Supreme Court in this regard.

The counsel stated that hundreds of officials had been reappointed and promoted in provincial and federal departments after they entered into plea bargain and voluntary return deals. The lawyer alleged that the reappointments and promotions were made while disregarding the court orders passed in a suo motu and another case.

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The Supreme Court had directed the secretary, Establishment Division, and all the chief secretaries of provinces to ensure initiation of departmental proceedings forthwith against employees named in an application in 2016 who had voluntarily returned the amounts.

The counsel argued that Section 15 of the law says that a person opting for plea bargain shall be deemed to be convicted and hence cannot hold a public office.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2021.