Pakistan - September 2023

On 15 September, the Supreme Court (SC) approved a petition filed by Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), challenging recent amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law. The Court's decision effectively nullified amendments to accountability laws enacted the previous year, deeming them to be contrary to the Constitution. These amendments had imposed restrictions on the anti-corruption agency, preventing investigations into cases involving amounts below 500 million Pakistani rupees. Consequently, previously closed cases with amounts less than 500 million PKR will be reopened and undergo re-examination. In complying with the SC order, NAB has revived 81 corruption cases, implicating influential political figures who were suspected of exploiting the legal amendments for their benefit.

Sources: Dawn, Anadolu Agency, The Express Tribune, Supreme Court of Pakistan

Pakistani officials have resumed granting ID cards to transgender individuals after a four-month pause due to a contentious May ruling by the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) against parts of the 2018 Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act. The National Database and Registry (NADRA) has stated that, as the FSC verdict is under review by Pakistan's Supreme Court, they are constitutionally obligated to issue ID cards while awaiting a final decision. LGBTQIA+ advocates and rights experts have welcomed NADRA's move.

Sources: Dawn, The Associated Press, International IDEA