On Friday, Imran Khan, the incarcerated Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed his delight over the Supreme Court's verdict, which ordered the reinstatement of corruption cases against public office holders that had been withdrawn due to amendments in the country's accountability laws, as confirmed by his counsel, Shoaib Shaheen.
In a majority 2-1 decision, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court upheld Khan's petition challenging the amendments made to the accountability laws during the tenure of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government. The bench, presided over by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, conducted over 50 hearings on Khan's petition against the amendments and reserved judgment on September 5.
In today's majority ruling, the Supreme Court reinstated corruption cases against public office holders that had been closed following the amendments. This decision has potential implications for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari, and former Premier Yousuf Raza Gillani, who may face investigations after the Supreme Court invalidated nine out of ten amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999.
Justice Shah issued a dissenting opinion in the case. Shoaib Shaheen, Khan's lawyer, confirmed that he had met with the PTI chief, who was sentenced to three years in the Toshakhana case, while imprisoned in Attock jail. Imran Khan was arrested on August 5 on charges of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession received during foreign visits, valued at more than Rs140 million ($635,000).
"He was very pleased with the verdict," said Khan's lawyer, adding that discussions related to NAB laws took place during the meeting. In response to a question, Khan's counsel mentioned, "We could not discuss the president's letter."
On September 13, President Arif Alvi suggested a cutoff date for holding elections in a letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC), asserting his authority to appoint a date for a general election within 90 days of assembly dissolution, as per Article 48(5) of the Constitution.