Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said remarked on Wednesday that it was not necessary to nullify the amendments in NAB laws as the court had also more options and it was viewing improvement in these laws.
The CJP remarked that society was suffering from the disease of corruption and a balance between individual advantages and work for the public is necessary.
He gave these remarks while hearing the petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan against the amendment in NAB laws. The CJP is heading a three-member bench in the case.
159 members voted for NAB amendments
During the hearing, the federal government’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan informed the court that 159 members of the National Assembly had voted in favor of NAB amendments. The CJP responded by saying that the issue was whether the attendance of the opposition in the house at the time was necessary.
He said the courts were not to resolve political conflicts. If the courts started to decide on controversial matters, it would increase the conflicts instead.
CJP said that this case has also a political dispute. The real question is that how the court would defend and protect the constitution.
He said that the constitution always stood for the nation and it would be viewed to which extent the court could go in this case.
He further said that public offices bearers were also accountable. The trust was necessary for all matters and trust was very necessary for holding a public office.
The judges were also the custodians of public trust and accountable, he remarked.
During the hearing, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked whether there was any precedent in which a Parliament member had challenged legislation.
The lawyer responded that he did not know about any such instance. However, he said, that Imran Khan was not only a member of parliament but also a former prime minister.
He requested that the court should also trust the politicians and the parliament.
The bench adjourned the hearing of the case till 12 January.
