The Supreme Court’s judgement to invalidate changes to the legislation governing the National Accountability Bureau has been contested by the federal government.
Govt challenges NAB law in SC: The Practise and Procedure law, which the parliament recently upheld as lawful, is where the government filed its appeal. The petition claims that by ruling the amendments unlawful, the court violated the rights of the parliament.
Since it is within the authority of parliament to enact laws, the petition asks the court to reinstate the amedments.
Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the government, and NAB have all been included as parties to the petition.
On September 15, a three-judge panel chaired by former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial ruled that the NAB law revisions were unconstitutional. Additionally, the judgement said that all corruption cases that had been closed following the changes would be reopened.
The ruling was final one made during Bandial’s time as CJP, and it was based on a plea filed by Imran Khan.
The NAB changes have limited the bureau’s ability to investigate corruption to cases totaling at least Rs. 500 million. The law had also restricted the chairman of the bureau’s term. It mandated that any open inquiries be forwarded to the proper authorities.
Imran Khan said in the petition that the alterations were made to benefit “influential” people and to legitimise corruption.