ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Thursday has taken Suo Motu notice of voluntarily returns in NAB cases and issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP), Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and others to appear before court in last week of September.
The notice was taken on a note of Registrar containing the details of the observations of the two member bench passed in Civil Appeal No.82-K of 2015 that the powers of Chairman NAB under Section 25(a) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 and effect of voluntary return in NAB cases, as after the voluntary return, the accused goes scot-free without any stigma.
It was further stated in the note that it has been observed by the court that the said provision, prima facie, is in conflict with the provisions of the Constitution, therefore, the vires of this provision needs to be examined.
Taking notice of the issue, the Chief Justice has directed the office to fix the matter at Islamabad in the last week of September, 2016 with notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan, Persecutor General NAB and Chairman NAB, as well as concerned authorities. —APP
