Shady dealings: Bail of former education minister, police officials extended

NAB to submit report, reply on alleged corruption in education, police depts


Our Correspondent October 31, 2016
PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought on Monday a report from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the progress into an inquiry initiated against former education minister Pir Mazharul Haq regarding alleged illegal recruitments and abuse of funds in the education department.

Headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, the two-judge bench also extended the pre-arrest bail granted to Haq till November 21, when NAB investigators will present their progress report in court.

Last year, Haq had approached the court against alleged harassment by NAB in connection with an inquiry into illegal appointments and misuse of funds in the education department during his tenure as minister.

In his petition, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader had said he had come to know through news reports that the NAB had decided to initiate an inquiry against him regarding his involvement as a senior minister in the previous PPP-led government in the unlawful use of government funds and illegal recruitments after the 2008 elections.

The petitioner had maintained that he was being subjected to political victimisation as the accountability courts had acquitted him of all charges. Claiming that the allegations were fake, Haq had pleaded the court restrain NAB from taking any coercive action against him.



On Monday, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that 13,000 illegal appointments were made in the education department at the behest of the former minister, adding that the then executive district education officer Mumtaz Ali Sheikh was also directly involved in the illegal recruitments.

The inquiry officer claimed that evidence had been collected against the accused and the inquiry will soon be completed.

The judges directed the investigation officer to submit the progress regarding the inquiry by November 21. Till then, bail before arrest granted to the former minister was extended.

Police funds inquiry

The same bench, meanwhile, also summoned the NAB officer investigating a funds corruption case against former senior police officers on November 21.

The two-judge bench also extended the pre-arrest bail granted to former AIGs Fida Hussain Shah, Tahir Ahmed Naveed and others till the next hearing.

The NAB had initiated an inquiry into then Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, finance AIG Hussain, then logistics AIG Tahir and others for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for the investigation wing and utilising them for other purposes.

On Monday, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that the former officers were involved in corruption of Rs70 million between 2014 and 2015. They caused losses worth Rs50 million to the national coffers by preparing fake bills, the prosecutor added.

The judges directed the NAB to separate the investigation against former AIGs Hussain and Tahir from the other accused.

They also extended the pre-arrest bail granted to the former AIGs till November 21, when the investigation officer has been ordered to appear in person.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st , 2016.

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