While terming the July 3 amendments to the laws of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) doubtful, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday dismissed the NAB’s appeal against the order to inform the accused before the arrest, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A two-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, conducted the hearing on the NAB’s appeal against the order to inform Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Javed Latif before his arrest.

NAB Prosecutor Rizwan Sati said that the decision to inform the accused before arrest was against the law.

The CJP remarked that Javed Latif’s case was at the inquiry stage. “Arrest cannot be made at this stage.”

The NAB prosecutor argued that an arrest could be made during the inquiry after the amendment of July 3, 2023.

The CJP replied that the NAB amendments made in July were doubtful, adding that the amendments made on July 3 were in conflict with the court decisions.

The CJP questioned how a person summoned for questioning could be put in jail. “The NAB Act was a draconian law till 2001. The amendments to the NAB Act to reduce the period of remand and grant bail are good,” he remarked.

Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the NAB law could be interpreted only in the context of court decisions and the Constitution.

Prosecutor Rizwan Sati said that the NAB amendment had been implemented from the past.

“Just leave these talks aside. The case of Javed Latif was at the inquiry stage. The arrest could not be made at this stage,” the CJP replied.

The apex court then dismissed the NAB’s appeal against the order to inform the accused before arrest and remarked that the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had come before the July 3 amendments.

 

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori