{"id":6951,"date":"2025-10-16T07:21:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T07:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/?p=6951"},"modified":"2025-10-16T07:21:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T07:21:09","slug":"nab-moves-supreme-court-to-block-high-profile-suspects-in-fake-accounts-case-from-fleeing-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/?p=6951","title":{"rendered":"NAB Moves Supreme Court to Block High-Profile Suspects in Fake Accounts Case from Fleeing Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Islamabad, October 15, 2025<\/em> \u2014 The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)<\/strong> has taken a crucial legal step to prevent several influential suspects<\/strong> involved in the fake bank accounts and money laundering cases<\/strong> from escaping abroad. Fearing that the suspects might flee following a recent Sindh High Court (SHC)<\/strong> decision, NAB has filed an urgent petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan<\/strong>, requesting immediate suspension<\/strong> of the SHC order that directed removal of the suspects\u2019 names from the Exit Control List (ECL)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the petition, NAB warned that the SHC ruling could seriously undermine ongoing investigations<\/strong> involving billions of rupees in corruption and money laundering. The bureau argued that if the SHC decision remains effective, \u201cmost of the accused are likely to abscond,\u201d jeopardizing the entire accountability process initiated by the Supreme Court itself in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NAB Challenges Sindh High Court\u2019s Jurisdiction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In its detailed appeal, NAB stated that the Sindh High Court \u201cexceeded its jurisdiction\u201d<\/strong> by granting relief to one of the accused in the fake accounts case<\/strong>, restraining NAB and other authorities from placing the suspect\u2019s name on any travel restriction list in the future \u2014 without the court\u2019s permission. NAB described this directive as \u201cextraordinary and legally unsustainable,\u201d<\/strong> adding that it is based on assumptions rather than established facts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bureau\u2019s petition highlighted that the SHC granted relief even in cases where plea bargains were involved<\/strong>, pointing out that one accused had already returned Rs 2 billion out of Rs 9 billion<\/strong> to NAB under a plea agreement. NAB argued that such individuals cannot be treated as innocent<\/strong> and should remain subject to travel restrictions until full accountability is completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal and Territorial Objections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NAB also questioned the territorial jurisdiction<\/strong> of the Sindh High Court, arguing that since the fake accounts cases are being heard in Islamabad\u2019s accountability courts<\/strong>, the SHC had no authority to entertain such petitions. The bureau noted that one of the accused claimed jurisdiction<\/strong> merely because he resided in Karachi<\/strong> and used Jinnah International Airport<\/strong> for travel \u2014 an argument NAB says has no legal merit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDespite the absence of jurisdiction, the Sindh High Court not only entertained the petition but also directed all federal institutions, including NAB, the FIA, and the Interior Ministry, to remove the accused\u2019s name from the ECL, blacklist, passport control list, and all other travel restriction records,\u201d the petition read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reference to Supreme Court\u2019s 2019 Orders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NAB reminded the Supreme Court that the fake accounts investigation originated<\/strong> from a 2019 judgment of the Supreme Court<\/strong>, in which the apex court had specifically barred all accused and their close family members from foreign travel<\/strong>. The bureau raised a critical question: \u201cCan a High Court issue an order that effectively overturns or interferes with directives originally passed by the Supreme Court?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NAB, the SHC\u2019s latest decision conflicts with the Supreme Court\u2019s earlier implementation bench orders<\/strong>, thereby creating a constitutional contradiction<\/strong> that requires immediate clarification by the apex court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concern Over \u201cUnusual Haste\u201d in Sindh High Court Proceedings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In its application, NAB expressed concern over what it described as \u201cunusual haste\u201d<\/strong> by the Sindh High Court in concluding the matter. The bureau explained that it received a court notice on September 16<\/strong>, but the case was fixed for hearing the very next day, September 17<\/strong>, giving NAB no time to prepare or file a comprehensive response<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NAB\u2019s counsel formally requested more time to submit arguments<\/strong>, but the request was denied. The court proceeded to announce its decision within 24 hours<\/strong>, directing that the accused\u2019s name be immediately removed from all travel restriction lists<\/strong>. NAB argued that such haste raises questions about procedural fairness and due process<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NAB\u2019s Plea Before the Supreme Court<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NAB has now urged the Supreme Court to take up its appeal on an urgent basis<\/strong> to prevent any accused from fleeing Pakistan<\/strong>. The bureau stressed that the fake bank accounts and money laundering cases<\/strong> involve billions of rupees in public funds<\/strong>, and the escape of key suspects<\/strong> would seriously compromise the accountability process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bureau further stated that these cases are directly linked to the Supreme Court\u2019s original suo motu proceedings<\/strong>, and thus, any modification of restrictions<\/strong> should only be decided by the apex court, not a provincial high court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its concluding arguments, NAB warned that \u201cirreparable loss\u201d<\/strong> would result if the SHC ruling is not immediately suspended:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cOnce these powerful individuals leave the country, the entire structure of accountability collapses. It would take years \u2014 if not decades \u2014 to bring them back under extradition treaties, causing irreversible damage to Pakistan\u2019s fight against corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Background of the Fake Accounts Case<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The fake bank accounts saga<\/strong>, one of Pakistan\u2019s largest money laundering investigations, emerged from a 2015 FIA inquiry<\/strong> into hundreds of suspicious transactions<\/strong> made through benami (fake) accounts<\/strong> allegedly linked to major political figures, businessmen, and bureaucrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered NAB<\/strong> to take over the investigation, resulting in multiple reference filings<\/strong> in accountability courts in Islamabad. Several high-profile figures, including former ministers and influential businessmen, were implicated. Some accused have since entered plea bargains<\/strong>, while others face pending trials<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Happens Next<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Legal experts predict that the Supreme Court\u2019s response<\/strong> will set a precedent on whether provincial high courts<\/strong> can intervene in cases arising from Supreme Court-led investigations<\/strong>. If NAB\u2019s plea is accepted, the SHC\u2019s order will be suspended<\/strong>, and the suspects\u2019 names will be restored to the ECL<\/strong>, preventing them from leaving the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Supreme Court\u2019s registrar office has reportedly received NAB\u2019s petition and is expected to fix an early hearing<\/strong> considering the national importance and urgency<\/strong> of the matter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Islamabad, October 15, 2025 \u2014 The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has taken a crucial legal step to prevent several influential suspects involved in the fake bank accounts and money laundering cases from escaping abroad. Fearing that the suspects might flee following a recent Sindh High Court (SHC) decision, NAB has filed an urgent petition in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_3859443944190656_828796993651875":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6951","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pakistan"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6951"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6954,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6951\/revisions\/6954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}