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SC directs NAB courts to expedite proceedings
Nasir IqbalUpdated 22 Oct 2020
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all the 24 accountability courts to expedite proceedings in corruption references without granting any adjournments to parties. — SC website/File
• Three-judge bench bars adjournments in graft cases
• Expects NAB to ensure timely production of witnesses
• CJP apprised of top law officer’s meeting with PM
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all the 24 accountability courts to expedite proceedings in corruption references without granting any adjournments to parties.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, a three-judge SC bench also directed the accountability courts to ensure that the evidence of different witnesses is recorded as early as possible.
The bench also expected that the prosecution would not seek any adjournment and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor general would ensure all witnesses were timely produced before accountability courts. Moreover, NAB chairman Javed Iqbal would ensure compliance with the court order in letter and spirit and order disciplinary action against those found guilty of not obeying the court directions, the bench observed.
The Supreme Court expressed the hope that the federal cabinet would take a quick decision to implement the July 8 directions to establish 120 accountability courts across the country to clear a huge backlog.
Earlier, Additional Attorney General Sohail Mehmood informed the court that Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday to discuss different under-trial cases before the superior courts in addition to the establishment of 120 accountability courts.
The additional AG apprised the court that a comprehensive proposal for the establishment of 120 accountability courts had already been submitted by the law ministry to the PM secretariat for final approval. The SC then directed law secretary to furnish a report before the bench regarding the decision on 120 accountability courts.
An informed source told Dawn that initially a few more accountability courts would be set up and their number would be increased to 120 at some later stage.
The SC had taken up a suo motu case regarding delay in trials before the accountability courts in the light of Section 16 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) that asks for deciding corruption matters within 30 days. The suo motu proceeding was initiated when Justice Mushir Alam had requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan on January 8 to constitute a special bench and initiate suo motu proceedings over the delay in prosecuting the accused before the trial courts.
According to a law ministry report, all the 24 accountability courts are fully functional and currently no vacancy exists in any accountability court.
During the hearing when acting law secretary appeared before the court, the CJP expressed wonder why the Ministry of Law was following ad hocism by not appointing a permanent secretary.
The court also noted that pursuant to its last order, the NAB chairman had furnished proposed NAB Rules 2020 before the President for final approval on Aug 26, 2020. The additional AG stated that the law ministry was vetting the rules and if found in order the same would be promulgated and therefore the court should grant another month in this regard.
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Day-to-day hearings and no adjournments ... anyone delaying the process (NAB, Lawyers, Judges) will be punished!
Btw, this is an ORDER!
Nasir IqbalUpdated 22 Oct 2020
Facebook Count
Twitter Share
7
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all the 24 accountability courts to expedite proceedings in corruption references without granting any adjournments to parties. — SC website/File
• Three-judge bench bars adjournments in graft cases
• Expects NAB to ensure timely production of witnesses
• CJP apprised of top law officer’s meeting with PM
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all the 24 accountability courts to expedite proceedings in corruption references without granting any adjournments to parties.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, a three-judge SC bench also directed the accountability courts to ensure that the evidence of different witnesses is recorded as early as possible.
The bench also expected that the prosecution would not seek any adjournment and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor general would ensure all witnesses were timely produced before accountability courts. Moreover, NAB chairman Javed Iqbal would ensure compliance with the court order in letter and spirit and order disciplinary action against those found guilty of not obeying the court directions, the bench observed.
The Supreme Court expressed the hope that the federal cabinet would take a quick decision to implement the July 8 directions to establish 120 accountability courts across the country to clear a huge backlog.
Earlier, Additional Attorney General Sohail Mehmood informed the court that Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday to discuss different under-trial cases before the superior courts in addition to the establishment of 120 accountability courts.
The additional AG apprised the court that a comprehensive proposal for the establishment of 120 accountability courts had already been submitted by the law ministry to the PM secretariat for final approval. The SC then directed law secretary to furnish a report before the bench regarding the decision on 120 accountability courts.
An informed source told Dawn that initially a few more accountability courts would be set up and their number would be increased to 120 at some later stage.
The SC had taken up a suo motu case regarding delay in trials before the accountability courts in the light of Section 16 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) that asks for deciding corruption matters within 30 days. The suo motu proceeding was initiated when Justice Mushir Alam had requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan on January 8 to constitute a special bench and initiate suo motu proceedings over the delay in prosecuting the accused before the trial courts.
According to a law ministry report, all the 24 accountability courts are fully functional and currently no vacancy exists in any accountability court.
During the hearing when acting law secretary appeared before the court, the CJP expressed wonder why the Ministry of Law was following ad hocism by not appointing a permanent secretary.
The court also noted that pursuant to its last order, the NAB chairman had furnished proposed NAB Rules 2020 before the President for final approval on Aug 26, 2020. The additional AG stated that the law ministry was vetting the rules and if found in order the same would be promulgated and therefore the court should grant another month in this regard.
SC directs NAB courts to expedite proceedings
Three-judge bench bars adjournments in graft cases, expects NAB to ensure timely production of witnesses.
www.dawn.com
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Day-to-day hearings and no adjournments ... anyone delaying the process (NAB, Lawyers, Judges) will be punished!
Btw, this is an ORDER!
