The Sindh High Court on Friday directed the National Accountability Bureau’s counsel to file comments on a petition challenging the vires of NAB Ordinance, 1999.
The petitioner, Shaheed Benazirabad Division’s Commissioner, Ghulam Mustafa Phul, had moved the court submitting that NAB had no jurisdiction to prosecute, investigate, inquire or file reference against an employee belonging to the provincial service or an employee working in a provincial government department, corporation, statutory body, bank, co-operative, local council or authority under the constitution.
He said the NAB authorities were transgressing the law and constitution and charging employees working in the provincial government without any authority and jurisdiction. He stated that provincial government employees were not constitutionally subject to the jurisdiction and authority of NAB.
The petitioner prayed to the court to declare that various provisions of the NAB Ordinance, 1999 including Sections 4, 10, 15, 16A, 18, 19, 27, 28, 31C, 33B, 33C, 36 as unconstitutional as they contain references to the provincial government, chief minister, speaker, deputy speaker, provincial cabinet members or other office holders, employees, departments, corporations, statutory bodies and local councils.
