Supreme Court Transfers Pending NAB Bail Matters to Federal Constitutional Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that it cannot hear bail applications in pending National Accountability Bureau (NAB) appeals and ordered that all such pending criminal appeals be transferred to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).

The decision came in a 30-page judgement authored by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, who headed a three-member bench hearing the matter. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction in NAB cases under Article 175F(a) of the Constitution read with Sections 32 and 32-A of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

In the judgement, the court addressed submissions urging the apex court not to give up its authority in such cases. The judges said courts could not play to the gallery for admiration or commendation and must instead remain within the limits set by the legal framework.