The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan, expressing concern that several influential suspects involved in money laundering and fake bank accounts cases may flee the country following a Sindh High Court (SHC) decision ordering their removal from the Exit Control List (ECL).
In its petition, NAB warned that if the SHC decision is not immediately suspended, “most of the suspects will escape abroad,” which could undermine ongoing investigations and accountability proceedings involving billions of rupees in alleged money laundering.
The Bureau said it was “surprised” by the SHC verdict, claiming the court exceeded its jurisdiction by granting one of the accused relief and directing that his name should not be added to any travel restriction list in the future without prior court approval.
According to NAB’s plea, such relief was “based on assumption” and beyond the legal authority of the High Court. It noted that the SHC also extended similar relief in other related cases, including one where a suspect had already returned Rs2 billion out of Rs9 billion under a plea bargain with NAB.
NAB further questioned how the SHC could assume jurisdiction over a case being tried in an Islamabad accountability court. It argued that one accused had only justified the SHC’s jurisdiction by claiming residence in Karachi and use of the Jinnah International Airport for travel — a stance NAB said was “legally untenable.”
Despite this, the SHC accepted the plea and ordered the removal of the suspect’s name from all travel restriction lists, including the ECL, blacklist, and passport control lists.
NAB reminded the apex court that the fake accounts investigations originated from a 2019 Supreme Court judgment, in which the top court had ordered to bar all suspects and their family members from foreign travel. The Bureau questioned whether the SHC could issue a ruling on a matter that falls under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court’s implementation bench.
The accountability watchdog also criticized what it called “unusual haste” by the SHC in deciding the cases. It said NAB received notice on September 16, and the hearing was fixed the very next day (September 17). Despite the case being linked to Islamabad’s jurisdiction, the court dismissed NAB’s request for more time and immediately ordered the removal of names from travel restriction lists.
NAB informed the Supreme Court that the SHC’s constitutional bench heard the matter even though it did not have jurisdiction over such cases.
The Bureau has now urged the Supreme Court to take up its petitions for immediate hearing and suspend the SHC verdict to prevent suspects from escaping abroad.
