— Seeks details of investigations against ex-ISI official from NAB
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa on Thursday took suo motu notice of former intelligence official and defence analyst Brigadier (r) Asad Munir’s alleged suicide.
CJP Khosa has also sought the details of investigations against Munir by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Munir allegedly committed suicide on March 15, after the emergence of media reports that NAB has decided to file a reference of abuse of office against him.
The anti-graft watchdog decided to investigate Munir, a former member of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), and others for allegedly abusing their powers to restore a plot in F-11 of Islamabad while violating rules and regulations.
In a last note accredited to him, Munir had appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to bring changes in the NAB’s operations where “incompetent people are playing with life and honor of citizens in name of accountability”.
“I am committing suicide to avoid humiliation, being handcuffed and paraded in front of the media,” he had allegedly written.
He had also reportedly requested CJP Khosa to “take notice of NAB officials’ conduct” to avoid the conviction of government officials “for crimes they have not committed”.
Munir had written that the aforementioned plot was restored by the then CDA chairman while he had only recommended the restoration as he was convinced that the restoration was in line with the CDA Restoration Policy, 2007.
He further cleared that he remained in the authority from 2006 to 2010 but the case was registered in 2017, after a gap of six years.
“I have also submitted my assets detailed to NAB,” he had allegedly stated.
Munir said his name was placed on the Exit Control List for three months in November 2017 by the Interior Ministry citing an FIR in which he was not even nominated. He said had filed a review appeal addressed to the interior secretary but received no response. “My name still remains on the ECL after more than a year.”
It merits a mention that Justice Khosa had vowed to rein in suo motu powers when he assumed office as former chief justice (r) Mian Saqib Nisar was known for taking up suo motu notices mostly during his tenure.
He had said that the Supreme Court shall use suo motu powers –Article 184(3) — sparingly, with the exception of cases where either there is no other efficacious remedy available or the available constitutional or legal remedies are ineffective or are rendered incapacitated.
The suo motu notice on Brig (r) Munir’s alleged suicide is the first such notice taken by CJP Khosa.
