NAB cases against former president, ex-prime ministers reopen after SC verdict

NAB cases against former president, ex-prime ministers reopen after SC verdict. The corruption cases against political bigwigs have been restored after the Supreme Court announced a major verdict on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s petition challenging the amendments made to the country’s accountability laws.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and former premier Yousuf Raza Gillani are likely to face inquiries after the Supreme Court in a 2-1 verdict struck down some of the amendments made to the accountability laws.

In the majority verdict today, the apex court restored graft cases against public office holders that were closed down following the amendments during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM-led) government.

The three-member bench — headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ijazul Ahsan — declared the PTI chief’s petition admissible.

The Supreme Court declared nine out of 10 amendments null and void while Justice Shah issued a dissenting note in the case.

The apex court ordered restoring all graft cases worth less than Rs500 million that were closed down against the political leaders belonging to different political parties and public office holders and declared the amendments void.

The verdict on Khan’s appeal further added that the NAB amendments under question affected the rights of the public listed in the Constitution.

The verdict has some far-reaching consequences as the striking down of the amendments would mean that references against some of the country’s political bigwigs will once again land in the accountability courts.

The verdict directed the anti-corruption watchdog to reopen Toshakhana cases against Nawaz, Zardari and Gillani while the LNG terminal case against former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the rental power reference against Raja Pervez Ashraf had been restored as well in light of the verdict.

As per sources, cases against former premier Shaukat Aziz and former finance minister Ishaq Dar will also reopen. All these cases will be heard by the NAB.