Court seeks AG to explain Nab Ordinance issuance

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) demanded a written reply from the Attorney General to explain the reasons for issuance of Presidential Ordinance issued last month to amend the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law, Geo News reported Tuesday.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Tasadduq Jilani, heard the petitions filed by PML-N’s Zafar Ali Shah and freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai against the Nab amendment Ordinance.

Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq said he was abroad; accordingly, he could make preparations for the case.

He pleaded the court for more time. On this, the apex court adjourned the hearing for one week.

The court directed the AG to appear in next hearing primed with comprehensive but concise written answers on constitutional justification for issuing Nab amendment Ordinance and a record comprising dates of consultations with the Prime Minister and stages in Nab Ordinance’s issuance.

Zafar Ali Shah requested the court to ask the government as to on which date the Ordinance was sent to Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP).

On this, the court said the written statement will encapsulate everything.