NAB to inform SHC in five weeks regarding reference against Malkani

Court extends provincial minister, brother’s pre-arrest bail

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) granted on Wednesday five-week's time to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to make a decision about filing a reference against the provincial livestock and fisheries minister, Muhammad Ali Malkani, and his brother Shaukat Malkani.

Headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, a two-judge bench granted time to NAB on the request of its prosecutor.

Meanwhile, the bench extended the pre-arrest bail granted to the minister and his brother till October 25.



The Malkani brothers had approached the court seeking bail to avoid their arrest by the national anti-graft watchdog in a case relating to alleged irregularities and forgery committed in registration of state land.

In February last year, Muhammad Ali, who was then the industries minister, and his brother Shaukat, a former taluka nazim of Thatta, had obtained pre-arrest bail from the high court against a surety of Rs1 million each.

During Wednesday's proceedings, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that the inquiry against the accused had been completed. He added that the matter was sent to the NAB chairperson for approval to file a reference in an accountability court. The NAB prosecutor requested the court to grant him time to inform it regarding decision of the NAB chairperson.



Approving the request, the bench granted five weeks to the prosecutor to inform the court of NAB's decision regarding the inquiry. Till then, the judges extended the bail of the Malkani brothers.

 

Bail confirmation denied

In the meantime, the same bench dismissed application seeking confirmation of pre-arrest bail granted earlier to Badin Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Hussain Jokhio in connection with a NAB inquiry into the alleged illegal allotment of 77 acres of state land in Bin Qasim Town.

Last month, the bench had reserved its verdict on the plea for bail confirmation. The NAB prosecutor had argued that revenue officers had illegally allotted the state land, adding that the land utilisation department secretary was also involved in the scam.



The NAB prosecutor had claimed that ample evidence was available against the accused and a reference had been prepared and filed against the petitioner and co-accused in the relevant accountability court. He had pleaded to the court to dismiss Jokhio's plea for the confirmation of his interim bail, as he was found involved in the alleged offence.

On the other hand, Jokhio had refuted the allegations arguing he was implicated in the case and had pleaded to the court to confirm his pre-arrest bail.