Fake bank accounts case: IHC issues notices on NAB’s plea challenging AC’s order

ISLAMABAD: In a major development in the fake bank accounts case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices in a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) challenging the Islamabad Accountability Court’s order dated 8 Oct, 2025. A division bench of IHC, comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Ayyaz Shaukat, issued the order declaring the points raised in the NAB’s petition worthy of consideration and sought their replies. Through the instant petition, the petitioner, the NAB, called in question the order dated 08. 10. 2025, passed by the Accountability Court No. 1, Islamabad, whereby the freezing order dated 04. 10. 2022 was recalled. During the hearing, Senior Special Prosecutor, NAB, submitted that the impugned order passed by the Accountability Court is the result of misreading and non-reading of the material available on record and without adhering to the timeline prescribed under Section 13 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. He further contended that though the judgment and decree passed by the Civil Court have no binding effect upon the Accountability Court, NAB was not arrayed as a party in the said proceeding; as such, the Civil Court passed the judgment and decree in favour of the respondents without affording an opportunity of hearing to NAB. He also contended that, while setting aside the freezing order dated 04. 10. 2022, the Accountability Court failed to take into consideration the fact that one of the parties/respondent No. 2, namely Naseer Abdullah Hussain Lootah, had already recorded his statement under Section 164, Cr. P. C. , with respect to the commission of the offence, which aspect was not appreciated by the learned Accountability Court. After hearing the arguments, the IHC bench observed that the points raised require consideration and issued notices to the respondents and deferred the hearing of the case until October 27 for further proceedings. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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