The Supreme Court of Pakistan has barred the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from transfers officers investigating high-profile cases
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Thursday barred the administration of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from transferring officers investigating high-profile cases until further orders.
The order came on the first day of proceedings of a suo motu notice taken Wednesday on the recommendations of a Supreme Court judge on perceived interference in the independence of the prosecution branch in the performance of its power and duties for investigation and prosecution of pending criminal matters involving persons in authority in government.
A larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar is hearing the case.
Some Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders have been green about the gills over the suo motu notice. However, the court remarked that the proceedings were not aimed at embarrassing or accusing someone and instead they were meant to protect the rule of law and the criminal justice system.
Chief Justice Bandial raised questions about the transfer of FIA DG Sanaullah Abbasi and FIA Lahore chief Dr Rizwan, who died earlier this month.
Dr Rizwan was also investigation officer in money laundering case of Shehbaz Sahrif. Dr Rizwan reportedly suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead after being taken to Lahore Services Hospital.
The Chief Justice said that Abbasi was a reputable officer who performed well in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. He was askance as to why Abbasi had been transferred.
The top judge expressed concerns over all these moves and said they prima facie amounted to interference in the criminal justice system. The court wants Articles 10 and 25 of the constitution to be followed in letter and spirit, he said.
The Chief Justice noted that FIA prosecutors had issued a statement about interference and the FIA did not deny it.
CJP Bandial said that newspaper clippings indicated that thousands of names were removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) and at least 3,000 people benefitted after the ECL rules were modified.
He said the court expected the federal government to be cooperative in explaining these steps.
The court also issued notices to NAB chairman, FIA DG, and interior secretary, demanding an explanation about interference in prosecution.
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