ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court (SC) has observed that it seems the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is reluctant to take action against influential people, including the prime minister.A three-judge SC bench, comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khiliji Arif Hussain under Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the cases of non-implementation of its verdict on RPPs and illegal appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as Orga chairman on Monday.The Supreme Court had directed NAB to take action against the people responsible for recommending the illegal appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as Ogra chairman. Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was among these people while he was also one of the main accused in RPPs case.On the request of NAB Prosecutor General KK Agha, the court deferred the decision to frame charges against the bureau officials, including its Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari, over non-implementation the order. During the proceedings, the NAB prosecutor general said that the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) is the main hurdle. The court, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the NAB progress report and directed Agha to produce terms of references and proceedings of the NAB executive board meeting regarding investigation into the case to execute the court's judgment in the RPPs.“After going through the record and documents we will pass an order,” said the chief justice. “If we are not satisfied with NAB's progress report, we will proceed into the contempt of court case against NAB chairman and others responsible for non-implementation of our judgment,” the short order stated.Justice Jawwad said the prime minister was also part of selection committee that gave illegal recommendation for the appointment of Sadiq as Ogra chairman and he did also confess illegalities before the bench in the RPPs case.The court noted that the NAB was completely ignoring criminal aspect of this case and defending the criminals. The chief justice said criminal proceedings were necessary for establishment of deterrence so that nobody in future could dare indulge in corrupt practices.The NAB prosecutor general argued that the court can  not interfere in the investigation of the bureau and it was NAB's task to examine the allegations in its own way. He said the NAO was passed by the Parliament, which was the supreme. The chief justice said: “You can conduct inquiry and investigation under the NAO, but remember court's judgments are conclusive and your investigation officer has no power to set aside our judgments on the ground that he was not satisfied with them. The court adjourned the hearing until October 16.

Trending Discussions

Pak-China-India triangle

Taliban talks offer to be accepted: Nawaz

Saudis minimise Umrah visas for Pakistanis

Sree a small fry, big fish involved: Police