Key Takeaways
- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices in a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
- The petition challenges an Islamabad Accountability Court’s order from October 8, 2025.
- The IHC bench observed that the points raised require consideration and deferred the hearing of the case.
In a significant development in the ongoing fake bank accounts case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices in a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The petition challenges an order passed by the Islamabad Accountability Court on October 8, 2025, which recalled a freezing order dated October 4, 2022.
The IHC, comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Ayyaz Shaukat, observed that the points raised in the NAB’s petition are worthy of consideration and sought the respondents' replies.
Senior Special Prosecutor of NAB, in his arguments, highlighted that the impugned order was the result of misreading or non-reading of the material available on record and failure to adhere to the timeline prescribed under Section 13 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
He further contended that the judgment and decree passed by the Civil Court had no binding effect on the Accountability Court, as NAB was not a party in the proceeding. The Civil Court passed the judgment in favour of the respondents without affording an opportunity of hearing to NAB.
The NAB also argued that the Accountability Court failed to consider the fact that one of the parties, Naseer Abdullah Hussain Lootah, had already recorded his statement under Section 164, Cr.P.C., with respect to the commission of the offence.
During the hearing, the IHC bench observed that the points raised require consideration and issued notices to the respondents. The case has been deferred for further proceedings until October 27, 2025.
The NAB’s petition seeks to challenge the Accountability Court’s order, which recalled the freezing order dated October 4, 2022, and aims to ensure that the process adheres to the prescribed timelines and procedures.
