Sindh’s ex-minister Sharjeel Memon released after brief detention

Memon had been taken into custody from the Islamabad airport runway

KARACHI: Sharjeel Inam Memon, the former information minister in the PPP-led government in Sindh, was released late Saturday night after he was arrested soon after a flight carrying him landed at the Islamabad airport.

The PPP leader was released after the National Accountability Bureau verified the bail papers that his counsel had submitted to the bureau.

Memon, who is facing a multibillion-rupee corruption case in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), was arrested by the bureau's officials from the runway after his flight from Dubai landed at the airport.

Four provincial ministers of Sindh Mukesh chawla, Imdad Pitafi, Fayyaz Butt and Taimor Talpur were accompanying Memon when he was taken into custody.



Memon had fled the country in 2015 to Dubai after the anti-corruption watchdog launched a crackdown against corrupt political figures and bureaucrats as part of the Karachi operation.

Later, a corruption reference was filed by NAB and subsequently the federal government put his name on the Exit Control List. He challenged the case and was directed to return to the country and defend himself. During his self-exile he lived in Dubai and London.

On Feb 21, the Sindh High Court issued intimation notices to NAB’s special prosecutor and the deputy attorney general on a miscellaneous application moved by Memon for extension of a protective bail in corruption cases.

Memon had submitted a bail application in the Islamabad High Court on March 15, assuring that he would appear in the court on March 20.

“An elected representative, who has protective bail from the high court is arrested from Islamabad airport with such disgrace and other members of provincial assembly were mishandled,” Taimor Talpur, one of the PPP ministers, accompanying Sharjeel told The Express Tribune.

Memon's son Rawal, in a series of tweets, termed the arrest of his father ridiculous.

This is ridiculous. My father sharjeel memon had decided to return back to pak. On arrival he has been arrested forcefully from runway.1/2

— Rawal Sharjeel Memon (@rawalsharjeel) March 18, 2017

He was brave enough to return despite knowing there was a great chance of being arrested. Moreover the Question now is 'who arrested him'2/3

— Rawal Sharjeel Memon (@rawalsharjeel) March 18, 2017

This needs to end asap. There are plenty members of the PPP who have been arrested by 'namaloom' then harassed/ beaten. Later found innocent

— Rawal Sharjeel Memon (@rawalsharjeel) March 18, 2017