Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned why the army is exempt under the new National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law even though judges are not.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legal advisor was asked why Imran Khan failed to mention the withdrawal of the army in the petition against the latest NAB amendments.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial, heard PTI chief Imran Khan’s petition against the NAB amendments passed by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government in July.
PTI’s counsel Khawaja Haris told the court that the amendment changed the nature of the offense and now disproportionate assets can be investigated only if a corruption commission is constituted.
Chief Justice Bandyal asked the lawyer whether other laws are applicable to the above-mentioned crimes.
The Chief Justice said that corruption and dishonesty are part of the asset cases.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Bandyal inquired how NAB amendment law is against public interest.
Haris said that just as the common man has rights, the welfare of society and national interest also have rights and there is a need to maintain a balance between them.
The Chief Justice remarked that you are linking individual benefit with the rights of society.
“What if the cases move to other forums?” he asked.
The lawyer representing PTI said they were only objecting to the application of the law to past cases as it facilitated mega money launderers.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah inquired whether it is permissible to declare a law invalid if it is unreasonable.
Meanwhile, Justice Ejazul Ahsan asked whether there is anyone who has not been exempted under the NAB law.
Further hearing of the case was adjourned till Monday.
In June, Imran Khan approached the Supreme Court against the NAB amendments, arguing that the change in the law would help public officials avoid white-collar crime.
