IHC dismisses former NAB DG Shahzad Saleem's petition against charge sheet

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th May, 2026) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by former National Accountability Bureau Director General Shahzad Saleem challenging the charge sheet issued against him by the anti-corruption watchdog.

A single bench of Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued a written judgment stating that the charge sheet merely constitutes a notice of allegations and is neither a final decision nor a conviction. The court declared the petition not maintainable.

The judgment clarified that the purpose of a charge sheet is to provide the accused a fair opportunity to defend himself. The court observed that the petitioner has the right to raise all legal and factual objections before the investigating officer.

Justice Tahir ruled that no malice or lack of jurisdiction could be established in the issuance of the charge sheet against Shahzad Saleem. The court further held that the writ petition against the charge sheet was premature, adding that if any adverse order is passed as a result of the inquiry, the petitioner may approach the appropriate forum.

A citizen named Nadeem Ghaffar from Faisalabad had filed a petition challenging his appointment and promotion. The petitioner's case was also examined in light of a suo motu case of the Supreme Court.

With the dismissal of the petition, the charge sheet issued by NAB on October 10, 2024, stands, and the inquiry against the former NAB official will continue.