On Friday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan rendered a significant decision, deeming the modifications to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws null and void, according to a report by ARY News. This landmark ruling, with a majority vote of 2-1, upheld a petition filed by Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), challenging alterations made to the country’s accountability regulations during the previous administration led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
The three-member bench responsible for this crucial verdict was chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, and it included Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ijazul Ahsan. The judgment, which had been under consideration since September 5, saw Chief Justice Bandial and Justice Ahsan concurring that Imran Khan’s plea was valid, while Justice Shah dissented from the majority decision.
Notably, the Supreme Court’s ruling also resulted in the revival of corruption cases against public officeholders that had been closed due to the amendments made to NAB laws.
This legal battle initiated in June 2022 when the former Prime Minister lodged a complaint with the apex court, contesting the amendments introduced through the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act of 2022 to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance.