Supreme Court has said that only the amenders have benefited from NAB amendments and the entire political party was running on the line given by a few people.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that despite the court’s decisions corruption could not be eliminated. He said that the problem was not only corruption but also the flaws in the system.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah heard the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan against the NAB amendments.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that more than half of the assembly had boycotted due to political strategy. Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Haris argued that if the executive would not do its work then people come to the courts.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that the benefit of following the line only reached the caste of a few people, those who directed the NAB amendment actually benefited. He said that the NAB amendments were passed in haste without discussion.
Chief Justice said that it was the job of the parliament to make laws and implement to improve the system. He said that in the past the decisions of Reko Diq and Steel Mill were taken by the court with good intentions.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that corruption was wrong and there is no doubt that corruption should not happen.
Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Haris said that it was the job of the executive to end corruption and if they could not do their job then the court will intervene. He said that the court has always taken action against those who did corruption in public positions.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that Pakistan was at the same number in the ranking of corruption as it was before the NAB amendments.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked under what authority can the court annul the NAB amendments on conflict of interest. Khawaja Haris said that the term regulatory capture was used for self-benefit legislation.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that not speaking against the army did not mean that action could not be taken against them for corruption.
Later the court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow (December 14).
