ISLAMABAD: A Supreme Court bench has dismissed a plea of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), seeking addition of opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif’s name in the exit control list (ECL).
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Mushir Alam heard the case.
The NAB had added Shehbaz Sharif’s name in the ECL while inquiring into assets beyond means case against him. The Lahore High Court (LHC) with an order removed his name from the ECL.
“Travel ban on Shehbaz Sharif was unnecessary when the high court issued the order”, the court observed. “Now the case has made sufficient progress,” NAB prosecutor argued.
“The court has to look into the circumstances, when the high court issued its order,” Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked.
The prosecutor stated that Shehbaz Sharif’s name surfaced in the case over suspicious bank transactions. Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked that suspicious bank transactions do not come within bounds of corruption.
Justice Muneeb said that the court has interpreted the anti-money laundering law in Justice Faez Isa Case and the NAB has failed to read verdict of Justice Faez Isa case.
“NAB has been authorized under the anti-money laundering law,” Prosecutor Jahanzeb Bharwana replied. “We know the accountability court has jurisdiction,” Justice Muneeb Akhtar responded.
Prosecutor told court that Shehbaz Sharif is in jail presently. “When he is in jail, why to be named him in the exit control list,” the Justice questioned. (With input from INP)
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