Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday declared the notices issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, in a reference regarding Toshakhana gifts, illegal.
A two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Babar Sattar issued the verdict.
The court ruled that the notices “are not in accordance with the law, therefore they have no legal status”.
“While sending notices to Imran and Bushra Bibi, Section 19E of the NAB amendment was not fully implemented,” the IHC observed.
The verdict added that if the person is an accused, he should be informed of the charges so that he can present his defence.
The court further maintained that the accountability bureau can issue a new notice after fulfilling all the requirements of the law.
“This amendment of NAB shows that it was done to fulfill the requirements of Article 10A fair trial,” the IHC verdict noted.
In April, the PTI chief and his wife challenged the call-up notices issued on February 17 and March 16, by the anti-graft watchdog accused them of retaining and “illegally” selling Toshakhana gifts.
In April, the former first lady had challenged the notices issued by the NAB and requested the court to declare the notices from February 16 and 17 as illegal.
Bushra Bibi had requested that the NAB inquiry be stopped from being converted into an investigation until a decision is taken on the application in which NAB has also been made a party.
“Until a decision is taken on the application, NAB should be ordered to stop taking disciplinary action against me,” the former first lady had requested.