Hearing former premier Imran Khan’s petition against the recent amendments made to the National Accountability Bureau law, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said on Friday that those sitting in parliament must not make self-serving legislation.
The CJP stated that the country was not through some ordinary times, but an “exceptional time”.
During the hearing, the former premier’s lawyer Khwaja Harris sought more time to submit written arguments. He said he could not submit them on time owing to him having contracted Covid-19.
The CJP clarified during the hearing that the court will only be focused on examining the point of amendments against the fundamental rights and will refrain from interfering in political matters.
It was further added that if the amendments are deriding the process of accountability, it will be a violation of fundamental rights.
The CJP added that most of the amendments have provided relief to the accused, adding that the evidence presented by the plea bargainer has been made inadmissible. He said there was no prohibition against custody in the criminal justice system, but that the matter of arrest varied on the nature of the crime committed. Makhdoom Ali Khan, arguing the federal government’s side, stated that the accused are acquitted but there honour is not restored even then. He further argued that the higher judiciary often does not uphold NAB’s punishments.
The CJP said in his remarks that the country is currently undergoing an extraordinary situation, with 150 members of the previous ruling party boycotting the assembly.
“The PTI was told to play a role in the National Assembly, half of their members are instead staging a boycott,” said the chief justice, adding that the members in the assembly are legislating for their personal benefits.
