The Lahore High Court has reserved its decision on a petition challenging the amendment of the NAB law through a Presidential Ordinance.
Justice Shujaat Ali Khan presided over the hearing of the petition filed by citizen Munir Ahmed.
During the hearing, the Deputy Attorney General noted that no similar petition is currently pending in the Supreme Court. The court questioned whether there was an emergency situation that necessitated the issuance of the Presidential Ordinance and why it was issued when Parliament was in session. Advocate Azhar Siddique suggested issuing an injunction against the Presidential Ordinance.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that only Parliament has the authority to amend the NAB law, while the President can issue ordinances only in emergencies. The lawyer contended that the President exceeded his authority by making amendments through the ordinance, which was issued by the Acting President.
The lawyer requested that the amendment to the NAB law made through the Presidential Ordinance be nullified.
It should be noted that the petition challenges NAB’s decision to increase the physical remand period from 14 days to 40 days under the new law.
