Pakistan’s top court restores anticorruption law amendments
Al Jazeera
The amendments were opposed by former PM Imran Khan. Ironically, their reinstatement could help him.
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday reinstated amendments made to the country’s accountability law two years ago, overturning a previous decision by a three-member bench.
In September last year, the top court under then-Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial had, in a 2-1 verdict, struck down changes to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), as had been demanded by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Khan had argued that the amendments, brought by a coalition government under current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Khan was removed from office, were aimed at benefitting his rival politicians and protecting their alleged corruption.
However, the federal government filed appeals after the Bandial verdict, and a five-member bench, led by present Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, began hearings in May, culminating in a unanimous 5-0 decision reversing the earlier verdict.
In the latest verdict lies an irony, say analysts. The reinstated amendments might help Khan, who had sought their removal.
