On his last working day as chief justice, Justice Umar Ata Bandial declared amendments to the National Accountability Bureau’s laws null and void.

While anulling the law involved overturning a host of clauses in the amended law as ineffective, the biggest consequence of the decision was that all cases closed under the amended law would be reopened within seven days.

Reopening the cases will affect dozens of major politicians including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who recently announced his return to Pakistan, his brother Shehbaz, former President Asif Ali Zardari and many leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Among the cases that will be reopened are Toshakhana cases against Nawaz and Shehbaz. Imran Khan has already been sentenced to three years in jail in a toshakhana case.

The Park Lane case and fake transactions case against Zardari will also be opened.

Former PMs Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will once again have to face the LNG case as well while cases will also be opened against former PMs Yousaf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

A powerplant case will also be reopened against PTI senator Shaukat Tarin. Former Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will also have cases reopened against him.