Protective Bail: IHC rejects plea of ex-minister, wife

A division bench headed by Justice Aamer Farooq rejected the application

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday rejected protective bail of former communications minister and his wife, for allegedly accumulating wealth beyond known means. A division bench, headed by Justice Aamer Farooq and comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, rejected the bail application moved by the Dr Arbab Alamgir and former MNA Asma Arbab Alamgir through their counsel Barrister Masroor Shan. Noting that his clients were willing to face court proceedings and participate in an inquiry conducted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), they should not be arrested as soon as they land in Pakistan from Dubai. Shah had cited the case of former Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon who had been granted protective bail in a similar case by the IHC. Hearing the case on Wednesday, the bench observed that the circumstances in the two cases were different and that NAB did not raise any objections in Memon’s case.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2017.