SC rejects NAB report in RPP case

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressing dissatisfaction rejected National Accountability Bureau (NAB) report over the implementation of its verdict in Rental Power Plants (RPP) case.
According to a private television channel, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heading a three-member bench said that the court order was issued for all accused in the case not just Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
The chief Justice demanded that the NAB justify reasons why courts directives had not been implemented, adding that the ruling in the case was based on the government documents and accused would be tried under NAB laws.
Prosecutor General NAB K K Agha said that bureau’s investigation was complete and the Supreme Court was a constitutional rather than a trial court, adding that it could interfere with the investigation.
The chief justice directed to Agha to present case-to-case files before the court, adding that the bench had been hearing the case pertaining to the implementation of its ruling on the RPP case for the past six months.
Chief Justice Iftikhar directed NAB’s prosecutor general to present the list of all cases pertaining to the rental power plants.
The chief justice moreover questioned as to what progress had the NAB made on implementing the court’s ruling of March 30, 2012.
He said some people named in this case considered themselves above the laws of the country and summoned an explanation from the authorities over their failure to arrest the accused.
Also during the hearing, Bokhari said the impression that the NAB was not investigating the case was faulty.
He added that investigating such cases required longer, adding that it was not true that NAB officials were not doing their job.
Bokhari moreover declared invalid two references that had been prepared in the RPP case.
Moreover, the NAB submitted a report on the case on which the bench expressed its dissatisfaction.
The chief justice remarked that the NAB’s report gave the impression that it had been made by the defence lawyer.
The bench’s dissatisfaction was followed by a dialogue between chairman NAB and the judges after which NAB’s prosecutor general said the court was exceeding its perimeter of authorities.
Responding to which, Chief Justice Iftikhar said the members of the bench were the judges and not Agha.