Decision on corruption cases not possible in 30 days: NAB Chairman

ISLAMABAD: Chairman NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has informed the Supreme Court of Pakistan that it is impossible to conclude a corruption reference within a 30-day time frame due to the less number of accountability courts in the country.

The Chairman NAB submitted his reply in the Supreme Court today (Saturday) in response to the directions issued by CJP Gulzar Ahmed to the government to form 120 new accountability courts.

The top court had also sought suggestions from the NAB chairman Javed Iqbal for the expeditious disposal of pending references.

In response, the NAB chairman said, “The anti-corruption watchdog has repeatedly informed the government about the delays in trials due to the excessive burden of cases and lack of accountability courts and judges.”

“Each accountability court is hearing almost 50 cases at a time. Due to excessive cases, trials are delayed. The bureau had also requested the government for the formation of additional courts in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Balochistan,” the letter informed.

The letter informed, “That under section 16(a) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 a timeframe of 30 days is set for conclusion of trial by the Court, and it is required to conduct proceedings on a day-to-day basis. However, with the present strength of Accountability Courts and the workload of cases pending adjudication before each Accountability Court, (on average each Accountability Court is currently handling 50 x References), it practically is impossible to adjudicate and finalize matters within 30 x days.”

Javed Iqbal further said that the stay orders issued by the High Courts in petitions filed by the accused were also one of the reasons behind the backlog in the disposal of cases. “We have to acquire services of retired judges to hear appeals if district and sessions judges are not available,” Iqbal wrote.

Earlier on Monday, the top court criticised the National Accountability Bureau for its lack of professionalism, expertise, and sincerity of cause which it said was the reason behind the conviction rate in NAB cases is abysmally low.