LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday turned down a plea of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to stop PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz from bringing political workers along, when she would appear in two inquiries before the anti-corruption watchdog today (Friday).

Headed by Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, a two-judge bench observed that the law would take its course if any illegal act was resorted to.

NAB’s Special Prosecutor Syed Faizal Raza Bukhari argued before the bench that the petition had been filed for the implementation of Article 5 of the Constitution, which required every citizen to be subservient to law.

Justice Dogar observed that the state was responsible for protection of the citizens and maintaining law and order as there was the law to deal with any illegal act.

Turns down NAB plea to bar Maryam from bringing PDM workers along

“Why have you brought this issue to the court? Why is this court being dragged in a political matter?” the judge asked the prosecutor.

Mr Bukhari said the NAB wanted the court to issue a direction to Ms Nawaz to obey the law as required under the Constitution.

“Do not involve courts in such matters and let the state perform its duty. Do you think the state is not aware of its responsibility if someone acts against the law,” Justice Dogar posed a query to the prosecutor.

The judge advised the prosecutor to approach the deputy commissioner if there were any issues relating to security.

Mr Bukhari pointed out that the Rangers had been summoned to protect the office of the NAB.

“It is up to the state whether to deploy the Rangers or the army. Under what law this court can pass an order in this matter,” said the judge.

The bench disposed of the petition and asked the NAB to deal with the matter on its own.

The petition contended that the bureau summoned Ms Nawaz for March 26 in two inquiries pending against her.

It said that at a previous appearance on Aug 11, 2020, the respondent had gathered political workers outside the NAB office to deliberately hamper the proceedings and created a law and order situation.

The workers had attacked the police team and tried to break the barriers placed outside the NAB office, said the petition.

It stated that the respondent, this time, also announced she would appear before the investigation team along with the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) workers.

The announcement showed that the respondent would again try to hamper the proceedings and create a law and order situation, the petition expressed the apprehension, seeking a court order barring Ms Nawaz from appearing before the NAB along with political workers.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2021