The Supreme Court of Pakistan has barred the government from the transfer of investigation officers in high-profile cases of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), ARY NEWS reported.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued the directives in a suo motu notice which he took yesterday against the perceived interference of the government office-bearers in the criminal justice system of the country.
The CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial took the suo motu notice of the government’s interference in the independence of prosecution following the recommendations of an SC judge.
During the hearing, the court directed the FIA, and NAB to seal records of prosecution and investigations in high-profile cases besides also issuing orders against withdrawing any case from the courts until further orders.
The apex court also issued notice to the secretary interior, director-general FIA, chairman NAB, prosecutors, advocate generals, and head of the prosecution departments. The Supreme Court also sought details of the names included and withdrawn from the no-fly list recently.
During the today’s hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial while leading the proceedings of the suo moto case said that the DG FIA barred an investigation officer from appearing before the court
