ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday declared a petition against the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) call-up notices to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi as maintainable.
The two-judge bench headed by Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Thaman Rifat Imtiaz announced the verdict on Monday on the petition filed by the former prime minister and his wife against the NAB notices.
The Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, had joined her husband in challenging the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) investigation into the Toshakhana case, which involves allegations of irregularities in the issuance of luxury vehicles to several public office holders.
NAB on March 20 had summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to appear before its investigation team on March 21 in connection with Toshakhana case, which was said to be second call-up notice by NAB for the former prime minister who opted to ignore the first one.
Also read: Former First Lady joins husband in challenging NAB’s Toshakhana notice
During the course of the hearing today, the IHC asked NAB’s prosecutor if they had dispatched another notice to Imran Khan, to which the prosecutor replied that they had sent a reminder notice to the former premier. To this, Justice Aamer Farooq stated that the notices sent by NAB did not reflect the implementation of the court’s decision and inquired whether Imran Khan had appeared before the accountability watchdog. The court was informed that Khan did not show up but responded to the notice in writing.
Prominent lawyer Khawaja Haris represented Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the court.
Haris expressed suspicion that the NAB could convert the ongoing inquiry into a full-fledged investigation. He mentioned that the anti-graft watchdog served notices to his clients a day after Aftab Sultan resigned as the bureau’s chairman, noting that Sultan had confessed that he was being pressurized.
On this occasion, the chief justice remarked that after amendments in the NAB laws, the anti-graft watchdog could only take up cases of graft of over Rs500 million, while Haris said that according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) records, the alleged graft by the former prime minister was less than this amount.
Later, the court issued notice to NAB while declaring the petition maintainable.
According to multiple court reporters, the latest decision by IHC has significant implications for the former prime minister, who is facing multiple cases of alleged corruption. The court’s verdict also highlights the growing pressure on NAB to remain within the bounds of the law and act in accordance with the constitution.
