Assets beyond means: PHC disposes of KP CM petition against NAB

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday disposed of a petition filed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s call-up notices in the assets case.

A two-member bench comprising PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad heard the petition. Advocate Alam Khan Adeenzai appeared for the chief minister, while NAB prosecutor Hashmat Jahangir represented the bureau.

The court disposed of the petition after it was informed that the chief minister had not appeared in response to the NAB notice and no new notice had been issued to him.

The chief minister’s lawyer argued that under recent amendments to the NAB law, inquiries can only be conducted in corruption cases involving amounts exceeding Rs500 million, while the case against the chief minister pertained to Rs304 million.

He said that NAB had issued a call-up notice to Ali Amin Gandapur on November 3, 2023, but the notice did not specify any charges and merely sought details of assets. Another notice was sent on November 24, which the lawyer argued was malicious.

He said the NAB’s law required notices to specify the charges and details being sought, and witnesses must be presented in court.

He pleaded that under NAB’s amended laws, inquiries were limited to cases involving misappropriation of over Rs500 million, while this case was of Rs304 million. In response, the chief justice remarked, “This means you are satisfied with the NAB amendments?” The lawyer humorously replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”

NAB’s prosecutor informed the court that the inquiry against the chief minister was going on but the previous notice sent had lapsed, and no new notice had been issued.After arguments, the court disposed of Ali Amin Gandapur’s petition.