ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan’s NAB appeals will go to the Federal Constitutional Court instead of the Supreme Court if a High Court rules against him under Pakistan’s amended accountability law.
The National Accountability (Amendment) Act, 2026, inserted Section 32A into the National Accountability Ordinance, establishing a second appeal before the Federal Constitutional Court. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the High Court’s decision.
The provision applies to any convicted person dissatisfied with a High Court ruling under Section 32. The Prosecutor General Accountability may also file a second appeal when directed by the National Accountability Bureau chairman.
The change would directly affect Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan if the Islamabad High Court rules against him in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case or another NAB reference.
Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have challenged their convictions under the Al-Qadir Trust Act before the Islamabad High Court. The court recently gave its lawyers a final opportunity to present arguments in the main appeals.
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Under the new route, a subsequent statutory appeal against the Islamabad High Court’s decision would be filed before the Federal Constitutional Court within the prescribed period.
The Supreme Court registrar previously returned separate petitions filed by Khan and Bushra Bibi after raising an objection that the matter fell within the Federal Constitutional Court’s jurisdiction. Their lawyers disputed that interpretation.
PTI figures described the amendment as targeting Khan, according to the supplied report. However, Section 32A does not name him and applies generally to eligible appellants and NAB prosecutors.
The amendment changes the forum for a second appeal. It does not alter the underlying corruption offences, evidentiary requirements or available grounds for challenging a conviction.
