Verdict on corruption cases not possible in 30 days, NAB chairman tells SC

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – National Accountability Court (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has said that the verdict on the corruption cases not possible in 30 days. In a reply submitted to the Supreme Court, the NAB chairman said that it is a legal compulsion to make 50-50 witnesses. "The present accountability courts are insufficient to deal with the cases. Courts misinterpret the word 'political personalities'. Owing to misinterpretation, it becomes difficult to make foreign institutions understand the meaning of 'political personalities'," he said. He said that they had repeatedly asked the government to increase the number of accountability courts. "As a result, the trial is being delayed due to burden of cases," he added. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, in the rely, said that there was need for additional courts in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Balochistan. "Each accountability court is hearing average 50 cases. Retired judges can also be appointed to hear the appeals if 120 district and sessions judges are not available," he said. He said that the Supreme Court had stopped the NAB from using the power of returning the money voluntarily. "Several cases will not reach courts if the power returning the money voluntarily is granted to the NAB," he said. The NAB chairman said that the high courts do not follow the rules defined by the Supreme Court while hearing the bail pleas.