ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) Thursday heard the arguments of former premier Imran Khan’s lawyer against amendments to the laws of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and adjourned further hearing on the petition till Monday next.
A three-member special SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, conducted hearing on the petition. Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah were part of the bench. “Will both the punishment and the crime of the plea bargainer end after amendments to the NAB laws?” Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked a question from Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Harris.
“Exactly! The crime as well as the punishment will end after the new amendments,” Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Harris told the SC bench. “I am unable to understand how the crime of a convicted person can be eliminated through legislation,” Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked. “If the crime is eliminated, that person can get a job again at any place,” he added.
“Before the amendments, only the punishment ended after the plea bargain, not the crime,” Khawaja Harris told the SC bench. “A plea bargain results in an end to the sentence. It is quite comprehensible. But how can the crime end?” Justice Ijazul Ahsan questioned.
“But can a person remain to be a criminal when the crime ceases to exist in the law?” Justice Mansoor Ali Shah pointed out. “The punishment of the murderer is also terminated in the case of settlement with the heirs of the deceased,” he added.
“If the punishment of a murderer can be terminated, then it [corruption] is a much lesser crime,” he added. The apex court adjourned the hearing on the case till October 10. Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Harris will continue his arguments on the next hearing.