IHC seeks final arguments on PAC jurisdiction

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought final arguments on the orders and jurisdiction of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the next date of hearing on November 18. IHC Justice Amir Farooq took up the case pertaining to the allegations of harassment, levelled by a woman against some senior officials of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Deputy Attorney General Fazlur Rahman Niazi, NAB Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Bharwana, NAB Director General Shahzad Saleem's lawyer Safdar Shaheen, former NAB chairman's lawyer Shoaib Shaheen and the Public Accounts Committee's lawyer appeared in the court. During the hearing, PAC's response was submitted. NAB Additional Prosecutor General told the court that the para-wise comments had been filed, which were very short. The judge asked whether PAC had the jurisdiction or not. On that the counsel for PAC informed the court that the matter of the complaint of harassment was related to the inquiry commission. Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Bharwana said that there was no word in the report regarding the jurisdiction. Justice Farooq said that if the allegations of the woman were accepted, those fell in the jurisdiction of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Bharwana said that if there was an inquiry against an officer, PAC could summon relevant records but the parliamentary panel could not ask for any kind of record on its own.

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