'NAB needs to prove its good intentions'
A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) observed on Thursday that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had to prove it good intentions that they acted independently and were not being used.
The bench, comprising Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar, heard a petition against the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the new Toshakhana reference case filed by NAB.
During the hearing, NAB prosecutor told the court that Imran and Bibi did not cooperate in the investigation. Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb said that with non-cooperation from the PTI founder and his wife in the investigation, it would be very difficult to decide the case.
Justice Babar Sattar remarked that it was surprising that the accused in jail did not join the investigations. NAB prosecutor said that the accused was a former prime minister. On that Justice Babar Sattar said it did not matter.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb remarked that NAB had to prove that they were not being used and acting independently. He said that the cabinet secretary was the custodian of the Toshakhana, and asked why NAB did not make the cabinet secretary the main suspect in the case.
PTI lawyer Salman Safdar said that nothing had been provided except the NAB call-up notices, which also did not clarify anything. The NAB prosecutor said that another notice was also sent as a reminder, but Imran and Bibi did not cooperate in the investigation.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb asked whether NAB made an inquiry against anyone on other Toshakhana gifts. He also asked how did NAB turn a blind eye to other more expensive gifts and only picked this case. He added that whether NAB determined the role of cabinet secretary in the matter.
The NAB prosecutor said that investigations related to other gifts were not completed. The court directed that the investigating officer of NAB should go to Adiala Jail and take the answers to the questionnaire from the accused. The hearing was adjourned till August 21.