Under detention: Report on Anwar Zai’s health sought

BSEK chief has gone to court against his arrest in NAB reference

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Friday the provincial health secretary to submit a report regarding the health condition of the under-detention chairperson of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK), Anwar Ahmed Zai.

Headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, the two-judge bench sought the report by October 6.

The direction came on a petition of Zai, who had moved the court against his arrest in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference pertaining to alleged illegal appointments in the Mirpurkhas board during his tenure as chairperson from 2004 to 2007.

NAB investigators had arrested Zai on charges of corruption, illegal appointments and out-of-turn promotions last month. He was accused of having committed the crimes during his time as chairperson of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi and in-charge of examination boards in Mirpurkhas. According to a NAB official, Zai will also be investigated for tampering with results during his time at different education boards and centres. NAB officials alleged that Zai had appointed seven persons in grade 16 and above without any advertisement of the posts.

Denying the allegations, the education board chief's lawyers, Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed and Mansoorul Haq Ansari, claimed that all the appointments were made on merit, following the rules and procedure. Therefore, they pleaded that the court grant post-arrest bail to the petitioner. The court was also urged to constitute a medical board to examine the health of the petitioner, who needs treatment for cardiac ailment.

On the last hearing, the court had ordered formation of a medical board to examine the health of the petitioner.

On Friday, the judges directed the provincial health secretary to submit a report based on observations of the medical board about the health condition of the petitioner.

NAB comments

Meanwhile, NAB's prosecutor opposed Zai's request for bail, alleging that the petitioner wanted to circumvent the normal process of criminal proceedings. He added that a reference had already been filed with the accountability court, which had taken cognisance of the matter. Hence, he said, the petitioner was not entitled to any relief.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2016.