The Islamabad High Court has issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for summoning former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, without following standard operating procedures in the Toshakhana case. The call-up notices, issued on February 17 and March 16, were challenged by the couple in court. Bushra Bibi’s petition urged the court to declare the NAB call-up notices illegal and stay the inquiry until the final decision of the Toshakhana case. The court has reserved the verdict on the pleas and issued notices to NAB for its reply.
During the hearing, Khawaja Haris, the counsel representing Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, argued that the NAB’s notices didn’t state in which capacity the information was being sought. He stated that providing complete information about the notices is mandatory for NAB as per the judicial orders. The IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq inquired about the procedure of serving notices as per the latest NAB amendments. The lawyer responded that the Amendment Act requires NAB to establish a reasonable and communicate it for summoning someone. He further added that as per the amendment law, it should be mentioned whether anyone was summoned as an accused or summoned for any other reason.
The court also asked if Imran Khan appeared before NAB authorities in response to the notices. The lawyer replied that Khan did not appear and only sent a written response. The court observed that NAB may be convinced by Imran Khan’s response that there was no case. However, the petitioners feared that NAB would turn the inquiry into an investigation.
The Toshakhana case relates to alleged irregularities in the issuance of vehicles to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari from the Toshakhana (state gift depository) during their respective tenures. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were summoned by NAB as part of the investigation into the case.
The notice issued by the IHC to NAB highlights the importance of following standard operating procedures in legal proceedings. It also highlights the need for clarity in communication and transparency in the investigation process. The case also brings attention to the accountability of public officeholders and the need for fair and impartial investigations.
In conclusion, the Toshakhana case and the legal proceedings surrounding it have raised important questions about accountability and transparency in Pakistan’s political landscape. The IHC’s notice to NAB for not following standard operating procedures highlights the importance of fairness and transparency in legal proceedings. It is important for all parties involved to adhere to these principles in order to ensure justice is served. A suitable title for the article could be “Toshakhana Case: IHC Issues Notice to NAB for Violating Standard Operating Procedures.”
