LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Thursday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a petition of Farhat Shahzadi, a friend of former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, her husband Ahsan Jamil Gujjar and Ghausia Builders Gujranwala challenging an inquiry against them.

The bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural directed the NAB to submit its reply by Dec 14 explaining reasons for reopening a closed inquiry.

Earlier, Advocate Azhar Siddique appeared on behalf of the petitioners and contended that the NAB lacked jurisdiction to hold an inquiry against private persons. He said the NAB issued call-up notices to the petitioners for an inquiry which had already been closed by it.

The counsel alleged that the reopening of the inquiry by the bureau was an act of mala fide and political victimisation.

He argued that the NAB had not furnished any details of the inquiry to the petitioners despite repeated requests as the housing scheme in question was legal and very old.

He asked the court to set aside impugned call-up notices and the inquiry as well for being unlawful and without jurisdiction.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2022