ISLAMABAD, SEP 15 (ONLINE): Supreme Court (SC) has annulled amendment to NAB laws declaring several of its clauses in conflict with law and constitution.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, announced the reserved verdict on PTI chief’s petition challenging the amendments to the law. It was the last day of CJP Bandial in office as he is retiring today.
The bench announced the verdict by 2-1 majority with third member of the bench, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, writing a note of dissent.
SC has declared nine of 10 clauses of the NAB amendments null and void.
Following annulment of NAB amendment by SC corruption cases abolished against several politicians under amended law stand restored.
Toshakhana reference has been restored against Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gillani.
LNG reference against former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was shifted from Accountability Court (AC). Rental power reference against speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf was returned which has now been restored.
The cases against former PM Shehbaz Sharif, former PM Shaukat Aziz and former finance minister Ishaq Dar have been reopened now.
The beneficiaries of NAB amendment are Farzana Raja, Yousuf Raza Gillani, speaker Punjab Assembly Sabtain Khan, Anwar Majid, close aide to Asif Ali Zardari , son of Anwar Majid, former PM Shaukat Aziz, Zafar Gondal, Sadiq Imrani, Nawab Aslam Raesani, Lashkari Raesani, Asfand Yar Kakar, Arbab Alamgir, Asma Arbab Alamgir and Sher Azam Wazir.
In the perspective of this decision over 450 former parliamentarians, serving and retired officers and some private business men have come on the radar of NAB.
Almost 1800 references, investigations, inquiries and complaints have been reopened in the light of this decision.
Cases of 7 former Prime ministers, 14 chief ministers, 78 ministers, 176 MP and 114 officers have been reopened due to this decision.
SC has ordered to reopen thousands of corruption cases of Rs 7000 billion, investigation and inquiries.
This is to mention that SC like this had abolished former president Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf NRO and reopened 8000 corruption cases.
The SC in its Friday decision has declared Chairman PTI petition maintainable.
SC said that the petition is maintainable under article 25,9,14,19, 24 of the constitution. The cases of all public office holders are restored.
SC held 53 hearing on Chairman PTI petition.
A 3-member bench of SC presided over by CJP Umar Ata Bandial had reserved judgment on September 5.
CJP Umar Ata Bandial had said that he would announce the decision of this important case before his retirement.
The other two judges of the bench are Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.
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