NAB should not harass businessmen: CJ Bandial

The Supreme Court has said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should refrain from harassing businessmen.

A three-member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard a case regarding the removal of plea bargain accused Tanvir Hussain’s name from the exit control list (ECL).

During the hearing, NAB counsel adopted the stance that the accused had caused a loss of Rs160 million to the national exchequer in the milk-and-biscuit contract.

The lawyer said that the accused struck a plea bargain after the NAB took action against him and returned Rs120.41 million out of the total amount. Later, the Lahore High Court struck his name off the ECL.

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CJ Bandial pointed out that the NAB had charged the accused’s property, saying it could be auctioned under law if the suspect was not returning the amount.

The chief justice said that the NAB should not harass businessmen adding that it could arrest them if they commit crime but should refrain from humiliating them.

He directed the NAB to auction Hussain’s property and recover the remaining amount and disposed of the appeal to place accused’s name in ECL.