Judiciary can't exceed the authority of executive: CJP Bandial.

ISLAMABAD -- Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday said that the Judiciary could not exceed the authority of the Executive and it could only ask the executive to fulfill its responsibility.

A three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the case filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan against the recent amendments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance.

During the course of proceedings, the Chief Justice said that the judiciary could not use the authority of the Executive. Suo moto power had to be used with great care, he added.

He said it had to be seen how the old law would be restored even if the NAB amendments were invalidated for conflicting with fundamental rights.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that there were other laws for accountability of illegal income. If the system was broken, even strict laws would not be effective, he added.

He asked if everything was to be done by the judiciary, would it not be exceeding the discretion of the executive? He asked could the Judiciary play a super role on the failure of the executive?

He asked if the Prime Minister didn't not had the capacity to run the country, would the judiciary run the country?

He questioned if someone stated that the government was suspicious, the prime minister was controversial, then the judiciary would run the government. This thing had to stop somewhere, he added.

He asked could the judiciary cross the line of separation of powers in protection of...