SC allows Imran to appear via video link in NAB amendment case

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the central and Punjab governments to arrange video link facilities for incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, for his appearance in NAB amendment case.

The five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, comprising Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, heard the case.

The bench has been seeking Imran Khan’s stance in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendment case via virtual appearance.

“Imran Khan can present his argument via video link in the next hearing if he wishes to do so,” said CJP Isa.

The CJP ordered counsel to limit the proceeding to legal points pertaining to the validity or invalidity of the amendments related to the anti-graft watchdog.

Lamenting that NAB was used for ‘political engineering’, Justice Minullah called on the anti-graft body to inform the court about the number of politicians it went after, and how many of them were jailed in the past 10 years.

The court adjourned the hearing until May 16 and directed the Attorney General to ensure the availability of Imran Khan via video link in the next hearing.