The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to the Attorney General and other relevant parties regarding the petition challenging the NAB Amendment Ordinance 2024. During the hearing, Chief Justice Amir Farooq addressed objections on the petition and allowed it to proceed. Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique, representing petitioner Shehri Malik Najiullah, argued that the new ordinance, which extends remand periods from 14 to 40 days and reduces penalties for malicious prosecution from 5 years to 2 years, was passed without parliamentary approval.

Siddique contended that extending remand beyond 14 days violates basic human rights and criticized the reduced penalty for officers involved in malicious prosecutions. He argued that the ordinance, having bypassed parliamentary scrutiny, undermines the law's intent and should be repealed. Chief Justice Farooq raised the fundamental issue of whether the Acting President had the authority to issue the ordinance. The court has directed the Attorney General and other parties to review past Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court decisions on presidential ordinances. The court adjourned the case until August 6.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan