The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Court in Rawalpindi failed to issue a single verdict in 2024, reflecting broader changes in the bureau's operations and legal framework.
According to sources, Rawalpindi had four NAB courts, but two were dissolved in the first phase of restructuring phase.
Following new legislation introduced under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government in 2022, a significant number of cases were excluded from NAB's jurisdiction, resulting in reduced caseloads across the division.
This led to the closure of a third NAB court, leaving only one operational court in Rawalpindi.
Currently, the sole remaining NAB court is hearing just three minor cases, with verdicts expected within the next three months. After the Supreme Court recently struck down some NAB laws, 27 previously dismissed cases were reinstated. However, these cases were once again withdrawn following the government's intra-court appeal in favour of the revised legislation.
The Rawalpindi NAB court has not received any new cases for the past three years.
Most new cases from Rawalpindi and Islamabad are now being filed in NAB courts located in Islamabad.
According to sources, logistical challenges, particularly traffic congestion between the two cities, have made Islamabad courts a more convenient choice for NAB teams.
If no new cases are filed by the end of the first quarter of 2025, the Rawalpindi NAB court risks becoming largely ceremonial, with little to no active caseload.
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