IHC summons director NAB with record in Rukhsana Bangash case

ISLAMABAD (APP): A division bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday extended interim bail of PPP’s leader Rukhsana Bangash in assets beyond known sources case and also summoned National Accountability Bureau (NAB) director in person with relevant record.

The bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri conducted hearing on interim bail petition of Rukhsana Bangash.

During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Farouk H. Naek appeared before the court and said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had issued the notice incorrectly, there was no inquiry against his client, he added.

He said that Rukhsana Bangash has neither been a minister nor she had any connection with a businessman Omar Manzoor, who was included in an inquiry.

Justice Amir Farooq asked that whether the petitioner submitted the answer to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) questionnaire?

On which Naek submitted the questionnaire sent to Rukhsana Bangash in the court and said that National Accountability Bureau did not make any allegation in para-wise comments.

Justice Amir Farooq said that NAB didn’t know what it does.

The Supreme Court has clearly stated that the call up notice was necessary, the job of the Additional Director was to inform in four lines, he said.

The bench remarked that Supreme Court and the high courts used to give ruling against NAB on daily basis, adding that NAB call-up notice was against the decision of the Supreme Court.

The court questioned that what were the use of inheritance and educational credentials of the petitioner the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was asking in the questionnaire.

Justice Aamir Farooq said that we serve notice to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to explain how the assets beyond sources of income cases were under the jurisdiction of NAB. Only the FBR had to ask about the transaction from the declared account, he said.

Justice Farooq while expressing anger over National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said that cases were made only on political grounds.

The investigating officer said that we couldn’t show the complaint as it was confidential, on which the court expressed annoyance with NAB official and said who told you that the complaints were confidential, everything had to be produced before courts.

The court said that director general National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would be summoned If the court seen so. The court adjourned the hearing of the case till January 20 with the above instructions.

IHC seeks arguments from AGP in PTV chairman’s appointment case: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought arguments from the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) in a case against the appointment of Pakistan Television (PTV) Chairman Naeem Bukhari and adjourned the matter till January 14.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minullah conducted hearing on the petitions challenging the appointment of the PTV chairman.

During the hearing, the court directed Naeem Bukhari’s lawyer to read out the decision of the Supreme Court (SC). On which, the top court’s decision was read out in the Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi’s case.

The chief justice said the top court had given clear judgment pertaining to appointments in the PTV.

He further said Naeem Bukhari was respectable for us but he could not ignore the decision of the SC.

Naeem Bukhari’s lawyer said the federal government had the power to appoint a private director.

The court asked the lawyer to read the verdict as it also mentioned the age limit for the slots.

On which, the lawyer said there had been a new notification which was not on the record.

The lawyer requested for a time limit to submit the reply.

However, the court granted it and adjourned the hearing till January 14 with the above directions.