SCP directs accountability courts to hear corruption cases on daily basis

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) directed the accountability courts to hear corruption cases on a daily basis and take prompt decisions.

According to the details of Baaghi TV, SCP issued the order in the Lakhra power plant irregularity case. The Supreme Court directed to hear corruption cases on a daily basis and said that the process of recording evidence should be expedited and completed as soon as possible.

Accountability courts have also been directed to decide cases as soon as possible and not to adjourn cases.

Read also: World renowned Turkish chef Bork Ozdemir announces visit to Pakistan

The Supreme Court directed the Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to ensure implementation of the orders and asked the Prosecutor General NAB to ensure the attendance of prosecution witnesses.

The Supreme Court has directed the Accountability Court Karachi to decide the Lakhra Power Plant case within a week and has also sought an implementation report from the Registrar.

It may be recalled that during the hearing of the Lakhra Power Plant Irregularity case in July this year, the Supreme Court had once again expressed frustration over the performance of NAB and remarked that it was responsible for delaying decisions in corruption cases.

The court also directed the federal cabinet to seek approval for setting up 120 new accountability courts, create infrastructure for new accountability courts and submit NAB rules within a month. During the hearing of the case, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed had remarked that the delay in the decision of corruption cases starts from the NAB office, the legal aspects are not known to the investigating officers and thus the investigation continues for years.

Read also: COAS visits Corps HQ Gujranwala, issues important instructions

The apex court remarked that there is no standard in the reference, one witness is enough but here 50, 50 people are taken as witnesses.

A few days later, Chairman NAB Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal in his reply submitted to the SCP had said that it is a legal obligation to have 50 witnesses in cases while a decision on corruption cases is not possible in 30 days.

Chairman NAB Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal had submitted the reply after questions were raised in the SCP regarding the establishment of 120 new accountability courts and NAB performance.

In his reply, the NAB chairman said that the existing accountability courts were insufficient to handle the burden of cases. He had repeatedly asked the government to increase the number of NAB courts.

The NAB chairman said that he had told the government several times that the trial was being delayed due to the burden of cases.

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for latest news and updates!