Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa-led larger bench will take up the federal government\u2019s intra-court appeal challenging the top court\u2019s verdict to annul accountability law amendments on October 31 (Tuesday).<\/p>\n
A three-member larger bench of the apex court \u2014 headed by then Chief Justice Umer Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah \u2014 on Sept 15 by a majority of 2-1 had restored corruption cases against the public office-holders after striking down some of the amendments made by the PDM government to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, declaring it against the rights pertaining to the public interest enshrined in the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, the federal government filed an appeal under Section 5 of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 against the apex court’s order.<\/p>\n
The five-member larger bench headed by CJP Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minullah and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi will hear the government\u2019s appeal.<\/p>\n
The top court has also issued notices to lawyers.<\/p>\n
The government had contended that by setting aside the law passed by parliament and making amendments to the NAB law, the apex court had crossed its powers.<\/p>\n
It was further contended that parliament was competent to legislate adding that it had enacted a law making amendments to the NAB law.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a legislation is repugnant to the fundamental rights of citizens, then the court can set it aside,\u201d it contended but added that the amendments made to the NAB law did not affect the fundamental rights of citizens.<\/p>\n
After the verdict, the NAB reopened cases against political bigwigs including the former prime ministers.<\/p>\n