SHC threatens to revoke bail if Lanjar fails to cooperate

Law minister not cooperating with investigators in inquiry against him, NAB tells court

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) warned on Monday to revoke the interim pre-arrest bail granted to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Law Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar if he failed to cooperate with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigators in a corruption inquiry against him.

SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, who headed the bench, directed the minister to appear before the NAB officials to record his statement.

The direction came during a hearing of a petition filed by the PPP leader, who had approached the court against the call-up notice and alleged harassment by NAB officials and to seek bail to avoid his arrest in connection with the inquiry.

Lanjar, who belongs to the ruling PPP, had obtained bail on May 29 anticipating arrest by NAB in connection with corruption charges. He was granted bail before arrest in the sum of Rs500,000.



During Monday's proceedings, the NAB special prosecutor informed the judges that the petitioner was not cooperating in the inquiry by not appearing to record his statement.

The prosecutor alleged that the petitioner was facing serious allegations of corruption but was not turning up to record his statement, despite the issuance of notices and requests.

CJ Sheikh observed that the petitioner had obtained interim bail before arrest, which did not mean that he should not cooperate in the inquiry.

The bench directed Hasan to appear before the NAB officials to record his statement and cooperate with the inquiry. The judges also cautioned to revoke interim bail of the accused in case he did not cooperate with the investigators.