Pakistan Supreme Court Reinstates NAO Amendments, Overturns Previous Ruling

In a significant ruling, the Pakistan Supreme Court reinstated National Accountability Ordinance amendments, a blow to former PM Imran Khan. The court overturned its own previous decision, deeming Khan's petition unconvincing. The amendments, initially annulled last year, were restored following intra-court appeals by federal and provincial governments.

In a decisive victory for the ruling coalition government and a setback for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Pakistan Supreme Court has reinstated amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), overturning its earlier decision from last year, reported Geo News. The unanimous verdict was delivered by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa and included Justices Aminuddin, Jamal Khan Mandukhel, Athar Minallah, and Hasan Azhar Rizvi.

Pakistan's apex court approved intra-court appeals filed by federal and provincial governments, declaring that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan failed to prove the unconstitutionality of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments. The top anti-graft body and Khan were respondents in these intra-party appeals.

The court's decision counteracts a previous judgment that had nullified some amendments made to the NAO. These amendments, passed in a joint parliamentary session in April 2022 during the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government, included modifications to sections 2, 4, 5, 6, 25, and 26 of the NAB laws. The CJP Bandial-led bench had earlier declared 9 out of 10 amendments null and void based on Khan's petition. The final ruling, however, noted procedural lapses and restored the amendments.

(With inputs from agencies.)