[DAWN] The Supreme Court is likely to take up on July 23 an application accusing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of misleading the court by presenting an evasive list of 150 mega scandals.The application, filed by Dr M. Shafiq-ur-Rahman, alleged that the list submitted to the court was not based on facts.
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, indicated that it would issue notices to NAB after going through the application during Eid vacations.
On July 13, NAB had submitted an amended list of 150 mega scandals -- 50 cases each of financial scam, land scam and abuse of power. Of them, 71 cases in three categories are in the inquiry stage and 41 in investigation, while 38 references have been filed and are pending in different accountability courts.
The list contained the names of top politicians,
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif
...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab...
, former prime ministers Raja Pervez Ashraf, Yousuf Raza Gilani
... Pakistain's former prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics could be awe-inspiring ...
and Chaudhry Shujaat Ahmed and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
In his application, a copy of which has also been submitted to NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Dr Shafiq alleged that the bureau officials had apparently concealed the names of "real offenders" to save them from accountability. "Such kind of screening is always mala fide and can conveniently be considered obstruction in the process of justice," he said.