Corrupt public servants restorations: SC asks AGP to seek instructions from Centre

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Attorney General for Pakistan to seek instructions from the Federation over avoidance of corrupt public servants' restoration who were benefited under the guise of Volunteer Returns (VRs) in past. Resuming the hearing of a suo moto action to examine the vires of Section 25(a) of the NAB Ordinance 1999, a 2-member bench led by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali expressed dismay, saying there is no point to avail services of a corrupt public servant.
Earlier, the NAB was issued directives to submit list of accused government servants who have made VRs with the NAB to which the NAB submitted a list of the accused who had made VRs, including very meager amount like a few thousand rupees. During the course of proceedings, the court observed that NAB had made VRs with accused in cases involving billions of rupees which cannot take cognizance of Panama Leaks but merely submitted lists of revenue officials (patwaris) and teachers who have made VRs in cases involving thousands of rupees.
The bench remarked then who would have the jurisdiction in Panama Leaks cases and who will take case of mega corruption. Staying proceedings against those who have made VRs for less than Rs 2.5 million the bench said in the cases of above than Rs 2.5 million, the NAB will proceed departmentally. The bench also asked the Prosecutor General NAB and Attorney General for Pakistan to submit a proposal wherein some modality is devised whereby the government servants who have made VRs cannot retain their offices. Hearing of the matter was adjourned till first week of January 2017.