News
Thursday, May 06, 2010
SC irked by NAB’s attitude in Nusrat Bhutto case
* Directs NAB deputy prosecutor general to take up issue with chairman, submit report by May 25
By Masood Rehman
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the irresponsible attitude of a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) official in a Rawalpindi accountability court regarding the summoning of Nusrat Bhutto.
A three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday was hearing a suo motu case against the summoning of Nusrat Bhutto in the Cotecna reference by the accountability court.
The court directed NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Aamir Abbas to take up the issue with the chairman regarding the uncalled for attitude of its senior prosecutor for appropriate action and submit a report until May 25.
The court, in its written order, however, maintained its previous direction granting exemption to Nusrat Bhutto from personal appearance in a Rawalpindi accountability court.
The CJP expressed dismay over the stance of Arif Ali Chauhan, senior NAB prosecutor, in the accountability court that Bhutto should be summoned. He said Chauhan had ignored a letter by the NAB chairman regarding Bhutto’s exemption from personal appearance in the court and insisted she appear before the trial court.
“How did the judge pass such an order and from where did he assume that her relatives should file a plea for personal exemption,” the CJP questioned.
He told NAB officials that the trial court can exercise its authority over the matter. He asked, “What kind of people have you employed who have no human sense?”
The accountability court had issued fresh summons for Nusrat Bhutto after rejecting NAB’s request to exempt the seriously unwell mother of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto from personal appearance.
It had observed that being an investigation agency, NAB could not seek Bhutto’s exemption from personal appearance and that she herself or her lawyer should approach the court. But later, the apex court ordered her exemption.
In the reference, former premier Benazir and President Asif Ali Zardari had been accused of taking six percent of the total pre-shipment revenue for awarding a contract to the Cotecna trading company. It has been alleged that they received $11.8 million in kickbacks for the $131 million contract.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk