IHC issues notices on appeal against 40-day NAB physical remand

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other respondents on an intra-court appeal that challenges an increase in the maximum period of physical remand of accused persons from 14 to 40 days under a NAB ordinance, the Associated Press of Pakistan and Daily Times reported.

The court also issued a notice to the Attorney General for Pakistan and sought his assistance in the matter.

A division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the appeal, which was filed against a decision of a single bench. Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique appeared for the appellant, Najeebullah.

According to the reports, the single bench had disposed of the original petition as infructuous after the ordinance was not ratified by Parliament.

During the hearing, the appellant's counsel argued that the NAB ordinance had been introduced specifically for a particular individual, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He said the ordinance had extended the maximum physical remand of an accused person from 14 to 40 days.

The counsel maintained that the expiry of the ordinance did not settle the legal question about the validity of actions taken under its provisions.

After issuing the notices, the court adjourned further proceedings until the third week of November.

In a separate matter, Daily Times reported that the court restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from taking further action affecting an ancestral graveyard in Sector D-12 and sought a written response on a petition against its proposed removal. The petition was filed by Waqar Ahmed, and the court directed that the graveyard's existing status be maintained, with a hearing set for October 28.