The federal government has approved significant changes to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law, introducing amendments that allow a three-year extension for the NAB chairman and shift final appeals in NAB cases from the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Court.
The amendments have officially become part of the law after the gazette notification of the NAB Amendment Ordinance was issued under the NAB Amendments 2026 framework.
One of the most significant changes in the new law allows the tenure of the NAB chairman to be extended. Under the amendment, Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed’s tenure has been extended by three years after the government approved making the chairman’s tenure extendable.
Previously, the NAB chairman’s term was non-extendable, but the latest amendment has changed the provision, enabling the government to retain the incumbent chairman beyond his original term.
Final appeals in Constitutional Court
Another major change in the amended law concerns the appellate process in accountability cases. Under the new amendment, final appeals against NAB-related decisions will now go to the Constitutional Court instead of the Supreme Court.
Earlier, appeals against high court verdicts in NAB cases were heard by the Supreme Court. However, the revised law transfers this authority to the Constitutional Court.
Because the Constitutional Court primarily deals with constitutional matters, its review will focus on whether any constitutional violation occurred during the trial process rather than re-examining the entire criminal case.
Impact on high-profile corruption cases
The amendment could also affect several high-profile cases, including those involving the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
If convictions in cases such as the £190 million scandal or the Toshakhana II case remain intact after the new law takes effect, the Constitutional Court will become the final forum for appeal.
This change may significantly alter the legal route available to defendants in major accountability cases.
Another notable provision in the amendment restores bail powers to the high courts along with the trial courts. Under previous legal arrangements, there had been restrictions on bail in NAB cases. The revised law now returns the authority to grant bail to both the trial court and the high court.
Corruption threshold adjusted
The amendment also introduces changes to the minimum financial threshold for NAB investigations. Previously, NAB could initiate action in corruption cases involving at least Rs500 million.
Under the new amendment, this minimum limit will be adjusted annually based on the inflation rate. As a result, the threshold could rise over time.
This means that if inflation increases between the time of the alleged offense and the start of proceedings, cases involving smaller amounts could fall outside NAB’s jurisdiction.
Despite the amendments, some legal questions remain unresolved. It is currently unclear whether final appeals in bail-related decisions will also be transferred from the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Court.
Another key issue is whether the Constitutional Court — whose jurisdiction is generally limited to constitutional matters — will require expanded authority to handle criminal appeals fully.
Sources say further clarification on these legal aspects may emerge after Eid, and additional constitutional amendments could be considered if required.
