NAB law change shifts Imran Khan’s final appeals to Constitutional court

Under the National Accountability Bureau (Amendment) Act, 2026, a new Section 32A allows individuals convicted in NAB cases, as well as the NAB prosecutor general with

ISLAMABAD: A recent amendment to Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law has transferred the final appellate forum for accountability cases from the Supreme Court to the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), a move that could significantly impact the legal future of former prime minister Imran Khan.

Under the National Accountability Bureau (Amendment) Act, 2026, a new Section 32A allows individuals convicted in NAB cases, as well as the NAB prosecutor general with approval from the bureau’s chairman, to file a second appeal before the Federal Constitutional Court within 30 days of a High Court ruling.

The amendment means that if any conviction against Imran Khan in NAB references, including the high-profile £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, is upheld by a High Court, his final statutory appeal will be heard by the Constitutional Court instead of the Supreme Court.

The change marks one of the first major transfers of appellate jurisdiction following Pakistan’s judicial restructuring. While the amendment does not alter the legal framework governing corruption offences, it establishes the Federal Constitutional Court as the highest appellate authority in NAB convictions.

According to PTI sources, the party believes the amendment is primarily aimed at Imran Khan, whose legal and political future is closely linked to the outcome of several pending accountability cases. Among them, the £190 million reference is considered the most significant and could have far-reaching consequences for both his criminal liability and political career.