Corruption cases restored against politicians after SC verdict

Islamabad: The Supreme Court ordered to restore the corruption cases against public office holders that were withdrawn after amendments were made to the country’s accountability laws on Friday.

The Pakistan Supreme Court declared on Friday that it had reserved judgment on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman's appeal and that it had invalidated changes made to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) rules.

The top court granted Imran Khan's plea to challenge changes made to the nation's accountability legislation while the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led administration was in power, by a vote of 2-1.

The top court also revived corruption proceedings against public officials that had been dropped after the NAB law changes.

Following the ruling, references against some of the nation's most powerful politicians will once more be heard by the accountability courts.

They include the Toshakhana reference against Nawaz Sharif, the supremo of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari, and the former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the LNG reference against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the rental power reference against Raja Pervez Ashraf, and the assets beyond means case against the former finance minister Ishaq Dar.