On Monday, the Supreme Court (SC) granted PTI founder Imran Khan the right to attend court proceedings in the NAB amendments case via video link on May 16, 2024.
On September 15, 2023, the Supreme Court of Pakistan invalidated amendments to National Accountability Bureau laws, announcing its verdict on Imran Khan’s plea.
A five-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa, allowed the government’s challenge to the NAB amendments verdict. At the hearing’s start, the NAB prosecutor general stated the bureau would adopt the federal government’s arguments in this case.
Justice Minallah noted that Imran Khan wished to participate in the case, questioning the fairness of barring a respondent from court proceedings.
CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa noted that arrangements for Khan’s video link appearance had been made at Adiala Jail, emphasizing that the issue transcends individual concerns and pertains to law and justice.
In the review petitions, the federal government challenged the verdict under the SC Practice and Procedure Law, listing the Federation of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau, and the PTI founder as respondents. The government argued the NAB amendments did not infringe on basic rights and requested the SC to overturn its decision, asserting that legislation is the prerogative of Parliament.
In a 2-1 majority decision, the Supreme Court upheld Imran Khan’s challenge to the accountability laws amended by the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)- led government. The court also reinstated graft cases against public office holders that had been dismissed following these amendments.
