Nawaz, Zardari in trouble as SC dismissed new NAB amendments law
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On his final day in office as the Chief Justice, Justice Umar Ata Bandial made a momentous decision that reverberated throughout the legal and political landscape of Pakistan. He declared the amendments to the National Accountability Bureau's laws null and void, a ruling that carried significant implications for the nation's political elite.
This judicial pronouncement was not a mere symbolic gesture; it entailed the overturning of numerous clauses within the amended law, rendering them ineffective. However, the most far-reaching consequence of this ruling was the mandate to reopen all cases that had been previously closed under the amended law within a mere seven days.
The ramifications of this decision are profound, particularly for prominent politicians. Figures such as former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had recently announced his return to Pakistan, his brother Shehbaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari, and several leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party find themselves ensnared in the legal whirlwind. Among the cases slated for reopening are the Toshakhana cases against Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif, as well as a similar case in which Imran Khan had already been sentenced to three years in jail.
Moreover, the Park Lane case and the fake transactions case against Asif Ali Zardari are set to be reignited. Former Prime Ministers Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Yousaf Raza Gillani, and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will once again confront legal challenges, including the infamous LNG case.
Additionally, a power plant case will be reopened against PTI senator Shaukat Tarin, and former Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will face the revival of cases against him. Justice Bandial's ruling has undeniably set the stage for a renewed and intense legal battle that will shape the future of Pakistan's political landscape.
