Misuse of authority: PHC urged to transfer Ziaullah’s case to top bench

In another application Ziaullah Afridi challenged appointment of the Ehtesab Commission DG

PESHAWAR: The deputy prosecutor general of Ehtesab Commission urged the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday to transfer MPA Ziaullah Afridi’s case to the PHC chief justice.

Deputy Prosecutor General Zahid Aman said the chief justice has already given his decision by dismissing Afridi’s bail which was upheld by Supreme Court, which rejected his bail plea. When the hearing commenced, Afridi’s counsels – Abdul Latif Afridi, Khalid Anwar Afridi and Shumail Ahmad Butt – raised questions on the legality of the investigation officer and his investigation before a division bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi.

Anwar and Butt told the court the investigation was conducted by an officer who had no experience of investigation and was an auditor named Sahibzada Behram.

They said Ziaullah’s arrest warrant carried Behram’s signature, who was sent back to his parent department, therefore the investigation should be declared illegal.

In another application through which Ziaullah Afridi challenged appointment of the Ehtesab Commission DG, his counsels told the bench that as per Ehtesab Law, the commissioners were supposed to be appointed prior to the director general.

“But instead, the provincial government in haste appointed director general of the commission and the commissioners were appointed several months later which was illegal,” Anwar said.

The bench, however, adjourned the case till the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.