Sharjeel Memon gets bail with directions to cooperate

SHC grants him interim pre-arrest bail till April 17

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) granted on Thursday interim pre-arrest bail till April 17 to Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sharjeel Inam Memon in a case relating to alleged illegal consolidation and adjustment of thousand acres of state land in favour of a private housing company.

Memon, who recently returned from self-imposed exile in London and Dubai, was directed to ‘cooperate in the investigation/inquiry and to appear before the trial court, as the case may be’ and ‘as and when required’.

A two-judge bench, comprising justices Syed Muhammad Farooq Shah and Khadim Hussain Tunio, granted him bail subject to furnishing surety in sum of Rs2 million with PR bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Nazir (official) of the court.



Previously, the high court had cancelled protective bail granted to the former PPP minister over his failure to return to the country and surrender before the trial court despite grant of extension in the bail on different occasions.

Earlier, the PPP leader, whose recent crowning had sparked debates, filed the petition and an application seeking hearing of the plea on urgent basis.

His lawyers, Amir Raza Naqvi and Shahab Sarki, informed the court that the petitioner was served a call-up notice by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 18 last year, whereby he was directed to appear before the investigating officer in respect of investigation against the officials of the revenue department and others.

Issuing the call-up notice under Section 19 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, the national anti-graft watchdog had summoned him in connection with investigations into the consolidation, adjustment and exchange of thousands of acres of state land in the multiple Dehs for a private project.



The bureau alleged that Memon was serving as provincial minister for the local government department when this land consolidation, adjustment and exchange took place, causing loss to the national exchequer, which was a cognisable offence under Section 9(a) and punishable under Section 10 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

The lawyers said their client was falsely implicated in the case by NAB, adding that the former minister was willing to cooperate with the investigating officer and appear before them as and when required.

The court was informed that the Islamabad High Court had already granted him protective bail in the case for 15 days till April 4.

The court was pleaded to grant him bail before arrest in connection with the NAB inquiry. A direction was also sought for the NAB authorities to file authorisation in each case for inquiry or investigation with the administrative judge of the accountability courts within 24 hours of filing the same.



The court was also urged to order them to submit regular progress reports in the court in order to ensure liberty of the petitioner.

After hearing initial arguments, the bench granted the plea for urgent hearing.

"Be all that as it may, without touching to the merits of the case, the petitioner is admitted pre-arrest bail subject to his furnishing solvent surety in the sum of Rs2,000,000 with PR bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Nazir of this court," the bench observed.

However, the bench directed him to cooperate in the investigation/inquiry and to appear before the trial court, as the case may be, and as and when required.

Meanwhile, notices were issued to the deputy attorney-general and deputy prosecutor-general of NAB as well. The bench fixed the matter on April 17 for confirmation of the bail or otherwise.

No deal, says Memon

Talking to reporters outside the court, Memon refuted what he described as rumours that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had struck a deal with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) to escape accountability.



He said some ‘pseudo politicians’ were terming his return a 'deal'. “Had I had done anything wrong, I would not have returned to my country,” said Memon. “I will not request for any exemption from the court proceedings."

To a query, the PPP leader said he will neither strike a deal with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar nor will apologise to him. “I challenge him to have a debate with me on any TV channel,” Memon added.

In an indirect reference to continuous travel restrictions imposed on model Ayyan Ali, the PPP leader remarked that the interior minister considers the Exit Control List (ECL) his 'private property'. "If he has the courage, Nisar should include PM Nawaz and his children’s names in the list," he said, making an indirect reference to the Panama Papers leaks.