NAB laws case: hearing adjourned without Imran Khan speaking

Former prime minister Imran Khan appeared before the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday via video link in the NAB amendments case.

A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminud Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, took up the intra-court appeal (ICA) of the federation.

However, today’s hearing was not broadcast live. During the hearing, the government’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan began his argument.

Subsequently, the SC adjourned the hearing indefinitely. It also issued orders to ensure Imran’s presence via video link at the next hearing as well.

Meanwhile, PTI’s official X handle shared a picture of the video call, with a laptop screen showing Imran seated in a room wearing a light-blue shirt.

This was Imran’s first public appearance since his arrest from Zaman Park in August last year in the Toshakhana case.

The government had filed a plea against the apex court’s 2023 verdict that annulled some of the NAB amendments and restored graft cases against public office holders that were closed down following the amendments.

During the last hearing, the CJP announced “We are allowing the respondent No1 (Imran’s) request” and asked the attorney general to make arrangements for his appearance through video link.

Justice Athar asked the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) that he would have to ensure that the video link functions properly, otherwise, they would adjourn the case.

The CJP said why adjourn? Adding; “there will be consequences if video-link does not function.”

In 2022, the former PM had announced to challenge the amendments to the National Accountability Bill in the SC, maintaining that the proposed changes will undermine the anti-graft body’s ability to prosecute “corrupt politicians.”

While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the former PTI chairman called for throwing the incumbent rulers behind bars for “shamelessly” passing the amendments in the NAB laws.

“They should be put in jail for their shamelessness. Nobody can pass such laws the way this government did,” Imran said then.