NAB has no trust in SC bench

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday expressed its lack of confidence in the two-member bench of Supreme Court that has been taking up the Kam ran Faisal death case.
On Monday, the bench of Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain resumed hearing in the case in presence of NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari.During the course of hearing, NAB Prosecutor General Karim Khan Agha objected to the constitution of the bench and said he was not satisfied with the bench formed to hear the case. Justice Jawwad S Khwaja directed the prosecutor that if he had any issue of confidence and constitution of the bench, he should submit a complaint in writing, and if NAB’s reservations were tenable, they might be considered. Justice Khwaja noted that come what may, rule of law and constitution was important for the court.
On the other hand, Attorney General Irfan Qadir also appeared before the court and requested it to stall hearing, pleading that a judicial commission constituted by the Interior Ministry was already probing into the death of the NAB investigator. To this, the court observed that both the government and court wanted to ensure rule of law and probe into the mysterious death. The AG said if the SC announced a judgment in this case, the work of the judicial commission would be of no consequence. In response to court orders, KK Agha also presented before the bench a copy of the notification of the judicial commission. After seeing the copy, the court returned it to the prosecutor with objection that the notification did not contain official numbers. The bench directed him to submit a proper copy of the notification on the next hearing. The NAB prosecutor requested for some time, after which the court adjourned the hearing until February 1. During the proceedings, the court also designated Advocate Anwar Kamal as amicus curiae in the case, to which the NAB prosecutor also raised objections. Kamal is also appearing before a three-member bench hearing the Rental Power Project (RPPs) case, as amicus curiae. Kamran Faisal, who was probing into the Rental Power Project scam involving Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and 15 others, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his official residence on January 18. His death came three days after the SC ordered NAB to arrest PM and others in connection with the scam. The SC took a suo motu notice of Faisal’s death last week.