IHC rejects D.G. NAB's plea against PAC summon

ISLAMABAD: A bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition of Director General NAB Shahzad Saleem against notices calling him in the Public Accounts Committee hearing, ARY News reported.

Acting Chief Justice Aamir Farooque heard a petition in which Secretary National Assembly, PAC Wing and others made party.

NAB Director General Shahzad Saleem has approached the Islamabad High Court against the Public Accounts Committee’s decision to summon him in the wake of sexual harassment allegations levelled by Tayyaba Gul.

“PAC goes beyond its mandate to summon the D.G. NAB, the court should declare the PAC notice as void,” NAB prosecutor Jahanzeb Bharwana argued. “The cases of allegations have been pending in courts, the PAC has served another notice,” the NAB counsel said.

“The Supreme Court has in its observations relevant to the case has said that the court could intervene in malicious steps,” Justice Aamir Farooque remarked.

Deputy Attorney General Khawaja Imtiaz said that the parliamentary committee’s proceedings could not be challenged in the court. The apex court’s decision could not be applied in this case, DAG said. “The PAC proceedings are exempted from the judicial review,” he added.

“When Speaker and Chairman Senate are being served notice, why not the Chairman Public Accounts Committee,” Justice Aamir questioned.

NAB prosecutor Bharwana pleaded for suspension of the PAC summon.

The bench rejected the plea seeking suspension of the notice and issued notices to the PAC and other parties.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case till July 27.

It is to be mentioned here that acting chairman of the NAB also challenged the mandate of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the IHC yesterday.

The Public Accounts Committee in its proceedings on June 24 went beyond its mandate, the NAB chief said in his petition.

He pleaded to the court to declare the minutes of the PAC meeting on July 07 as void and restrain the parliamentary body from any action.