Pakistan Supreme Court Reinstates NAB Law Changes

Pakistan's Supreme Court has unanimously reinstated amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws, benefiting several politicians, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his brother Nawaz Sharif. This ruling reverses a previous decision from September 2023 that had annulled these amendments, which were introduced in May 2023 by the Sharif-led government and criticized by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, emphasized that judges should not act as 'gatekeepers of Parliament' and should support legislation whenever possible. Interestingly, while Khan had previously opposed the amendments, they may now inadvertently assist him in his legal battles. The reinstated laws limit NAB's jurisdiction and restrict corruption cases below a threshold of 50 billion rupees, potentially impacting ongoing investigations against Khan. This decision marks a significant political shift in Pakistan's ongoing power struggle.