SC urged to seek details of acquittals after PTI's NAB ordinances.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday was urged to seek details of individuals acquitted in corruption cases and the references returned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as a result of ordinances promulgated by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) during its four-year tenure.

Makhdoom Ali Khan, who is representing the federal government in a petition against changes to NAB law made by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), said the apex court should also inquire how many references were returned as a result of legislation enacted by the former ruling party. Instead of asking how many parliamentarians were among 386 cases that were returned to NAB by courts following the recent tweaks, the court should seek information about the impact of PTI-made legislation.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked NAB lawyer Mumtaz Yousaf to come up with a reply to the argument put forth by the counsel. Justice Bandial is heading a three-member bench that had taken up challenges to the August 2022 amendments to the NAB law by former prime minister Imran Khan.

The counsel said that NAB should answer how many applications the bureau received after the promulgation of five ordinances by the PTI government and how many acquittals were resultantly granted. The arguments came against the backdrop of Tuesday's direction to NAB by the court to furnish details on relief parliamentarians obtained after the recent amendments to the NAB ordinance.

Justice Ahsan says recent amendments appear to be 'granting a grand amnesty'

The NAB second amendment bill, which was passed by the National Assembly last year, was a combination of ordinances that were promulgated by the previous government. He added the PDM government did not move a fresh bill in this regard. He emphasised that acquittals did take place and references were returned under the ordinance brought by the previous government.

'Wrong impression'

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that a wrong impression had been created that with the help of the amendments to the accountability law, the accused would get off scot-free. There are other...