ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) will hear setting up of 120 accountability courts all over the country from January 5th, so that corruption references are decided expeditiously.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, will hear the suo moto regarding delay in trial of cases by the Accountability Courts in the light of Section 16 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, which requires decision of the NAB cases within 30 days.

The federal government on October 26, 2020 had decided to establish 30 new Accountability Courts (ACs) out of 120, while the remaining would be set up in a phased manner.

The Supreme Court on 08-07-2020 had ordered for setting up 120 ACs all over the country as the corruption cases are not decided within the time-frame mentioned in the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

The Supreme Court on October 21 had directed the ACs all over the country to hear corruption cases on a daily basis without granting adjournment, and to decide them expeditiously.

The chief justice had told the NAB that there should be no delay in references, and they be decided soon in accordance with the law.

The prosecutor generals were directed to make their availability before the courts and not to seek adjournment.

The chairman is asked to make sure that its (apex court) order is complied with.

If anyone is found not complying with the court order then action be taken against them.

The chief justice had said the corruption cases should be decided by the NAB courts within 30 days.

He had said, “The whole purpose of making accountability law apparently seems to be rendered futile, if the courts are allowed to remain vacant.”

The Court had said that 1,226 NAB references had been pending in various courts since 2000.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020