Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa instructed government to ensure video link arrangements for incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan to join proceedings of case about changes to country’s accountability laws and give his arguments.

Five-member bench led by CJ and comprising Supreme Court Justices Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Athar Minallah and Hasan Azhar Rizvi heard case.

Justice Athar Minallah said that PTI founder should be presented if he wanted to appear in personal capacity.

“This is matter concerning NAB and it is his right to appear in personal capacity,” Justice Minallah said.

CJP Isa said that matter was constitutional and not concerned with personal rights, questioning how person who was not lawyer would be helpful to court in matter.

“Our order was that he could present his arguments through his council,” CJP said”.

“If PTI founder wants to give his arguments, he can give them through video link,” CJP Isa said.

In 2022, amendments were made to country’s accountability laws by then-Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government.

Amendments made several changes to National Accountability Ordinance 1999-limiting NAB’s jurisdiction to cases involving over Rs 500 million and transferring all pending inquiries, investigations and trials to relevant authorities.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 15 2024

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