Before Retirement, Chief Justice Bandial is anticipated to make the decision in this case. The verdict will have a significant impact on national politics.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court postponed making a decision in relation to Imran Khan’s appeal of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) rules. The case contesting amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) of 1999 during the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led administration was considered by the three-member highest court bench, which was led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and included Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Ijazul Ahsan.
The reserved verdict was delivered by CJP Bandial, who also mentioned his impending retirement and promised that a decision would be made before his anticipated retirement on September 16th, when Justice Qazi Faez Issa was expected to take his place.
The CJP highlighted the absence of precise definitions in the law and emphasised the necessity of taking action against corruption in public assets, smuggling, and unlawful money transfer. Justice Mansoor questioned whether it was strange for the state to object to the parliamentary revisions that reduced penalties.
The CJP considered whether eliminating offences through retroactive application of NAB amendments and questioned the justification for doing so. Justice Mansoor responded by asking if Parliament could pass laws retroactively and if the Supreme Court could question the motivations behind such laws.
He pointed out that if the supreme court lacked the power to change parliamentary law, it would be forced to follow it.
