The Islamabad High Court (IHC) delivered a stern rebuke to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday, with Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani stating that the bureau “has ruined everything” and operates with impunity. The remarks came during a hearing on petitions filed by affected residents of Shah Allah Ditta and Sector C-13. Justice Kayani directed officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to submit a comprehensive report regarding the victims within one month to facilitate a resolution to their problems.
Justice Kayani did not mince words in his criticism of NAB, asserting that apart from political victimization, the bureau has no accountability. He instructed government officials to cease following NAB’s directives out of fear and to instead focus on helping the people. Addressing the culture of intimidation, the judge declared that whether one is a judge, police officer, or CDA employee, they should not fear anyone while performing their duty, famously stating, “Mistakes are not punished, dishonesty is.”
The court also highlighted significant jurisdictional and administrative failures, noting that matters of civil rights cannot be handled by a single individual and require clear separation between institutions like NAB and the FIA. Justice Kayani pointed out glaring irregularities, including the fact that properties have been illegally transferred in the names of people who are not yet born, a clear indicator of systemic corruption and mismanagement.
Further criticizing the administrative setup, the court noted that despite clear orders, the posts of CDA chairman and chief commissioner are still held by the same person. Justice Kayani also remarked that to reduce workload, each sector should have its own deputy commissioner, but instead, the official ignoring court orders removed one DC and appointed five others. The court’s directive for a detailed CDA report within one month is seen as a step towards untangling these deep-rooted issues and providing justice to the affected citizens.
