ISLAMABAD :The Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of former federal minister Anwar Saifullah Khan, declaring the sentence issued in 2000 null and void and restoring the Lahore High Court’s acquittal of June 13, 2002.

In its written judgment, the court said that under Article 12 of the Constitution, no person can be punished more severely under a later law for actions committed in the past.

The court observed that the 2000 conviction under the NAB Ordinance 1999 imposed a harsher punishment than what was applicable at the time of the alleged offences in 1996, making its retroactive application unconstitutional.

It noted that during his tenure as Minister for Petroleum, Anwar Saifullah Khan had made appointments according to procedure, and no evidence of bribery or financial loss to the national exchequer was presented.

The review petition was therefore accepted to correct a legal error on the record.