Supreme Court wants NAB law amendments matter to be resolved at Parliament

ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (SABAH): Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday said that the matter of amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law could be resolved amicably if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) returns to the National Assembly.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the petition of former prime minister and Chairman PTI Imran Khan against amendments in the NAB law.

During the hearing, the court discussed the possibility of PTI return to the National Assembly as per news stories and how it relates to the matter of the NAB amendments.

The Chief Justice asked the government’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan if they were ready to work with PTI in case the political party returns to the Lower House.

The counsel replied that he could not comment on it without instruction from the government, but he added that the PTI could table a bill for amendments to the NAB law.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that both the government and PTI would want an effective accountability law which they could make together. He emphasized that in the case of NAB amendments, national interest should be prevalent and legislation should be done through consensus instead of the majority opinion.

Chief Justice Bandial stated that the top court always wanted this matter to be resolved in the Parliament.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah also inquired whether it would not be appropriate for PTI to bring an amendment bill to the assembly and have a discussion on it.

He suggested that something good may come out of the discussion and if the problem is not resolved in the National Assembly, Imran Khan can come to the court.