ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the full details of the recoveries made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) so far, apart from the details regarding the volume and utilization of the recoveries made so far.
A 3-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, heard the petition of PTI Chairman Imran Khan regarding the amendments made by the coalition government in the National Accountability Act. was challenged. Ordinance (NAO) 1999.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal remarked that it is being claimed that NAB has made record recovery in the past years.
The court directed NAB to submit a detailed report on the volume of recoveries made so far and where the money recovered so far was used.
The court also directed the anti-corruption agency to provide the names of the provinces as well as details about the amount of money deposited with the federal or provincial governments so far.
Similarly, the court also sought complete records regarding recovery amount returned to public organizations, banks and general public.
The NAB prosecutor told the court that the money embezzled from government agencies and the government respectively was returned to him.
The Chief Justice asked the NAB prosecutor to submit complete details at the next hearing, after which the court will examine it in detail.
The Chief Justice remarked that after the amendments in the NAB law, it is now the responsibility of the anti-graft body to prove the allegations related to benami and disproportionate assets.
Similarly, according to the amendments in the NAB law, the Bureau had to provide proof of unaccounted payments. Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan remarked that the case was filed to prove the record of the payees of benami properties. Justice Ahsan said that according to the NAB law, a benamidar consists only of husband or wife, relatives as well as servants. The judge added that the prosecution cannot establish benami properties until the victims provide evidence. However, federal government lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan said that the main purpose of the amendments in the NAB law is to prevent the anti-corruption agency from taking action against anyone after unjustified allegations. The lawyer said that after the amendments, NAB will have to provide concrete evidence before accusing anyone.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till April 4.
