SHC overturns acquittal of former NICL chairperson
The suspect was accused of buying property at higher price in Dubai
Sindh High Court. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) headed by Justice Iqbal Kalharo overturned the verdict of an accountability court, which had acquitted former National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) chairperson Ayaz Khan Niazi.
Niazi was accused of buying property on behalf of the NICL at exorbitant rates in Dubai. The court, accepting the appeal against Niazi's acquittal, directed that experts of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to estimate the value of the property. The court also directed the accountability court to try the case again.
Court seeks arguments in NICL corruption case
JIT details demanded
The same bench directed the Sindh government to submit details of the Joint Investigation Teams (JIT) reports of Baldia Factory fire, Uzair Baloch and Nisar Morai.
The court was hearing the petition by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Leader Ali Zaidi asking it to direct the Sindh government to make the JIT reports public. On failure to comply with court orders, the government's lawyer said that the home department was not informed that the JITs reports were to be presented to the court, adding that the Sindh Inspector-General (IG) of Police may have been aware of the court orders. The court was requested to give time to obtain information from the IG. The court remarked that it be informed where the cases were being pursued and whether the statements, under Section 164, had been made part of the cases as yet. The court granting time to the government lawyer adjourned the hearing till November 14.
According to the petition, more than 250 people died in the Baldia fire tragedy but the JIT report was not made public. The JITs of Uzair Baloch and Nisar Morai were also not made public.
Plea for promotion
The SHC issued notices for an immediate hearing to the federal cabinet secretary, high-powered selection board, establishment division secretary, additional attorney-general and others, on a petition filed by former Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo for his promotion to grade 22 as the Sindh IG, A two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the plea. Thebo's lawyer, Mehmood Alam Rizvi, argued that his client was being constantly ignored despite being qualified for grade 22. He said that the selection board is scheduled after a few days and the court must give a clear order. The court, however, said that the orders will be passed after the reply from the concerned officials.
Sindh High Court seeks arguments from defence counsel
The petitioner states, "I am working as an additional IG on grade 21. Officers junior to me are being promoted to grade 22. I stand up to the standards of grade 22 and Sindh IG. The selection board promoted junior officers Mehar Khalid Dad Lak and Bashir Ahmed. This act of the selection board is illegal." The petition requested that Thebo be promoted to grade 22.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2018.
A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) headed by Justice Iqbal Kalharo overturned the verdict of an accountability court, which had acquitted former National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) chairperson Ayaz Khan Niazi.
Niazi was accused of buying property on behalf of the NICL at exorbitant rates in Dubai. The court, accepting the appeal against Niazi's acquittal, directed that experts of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to estimate the value of the property. The court also directed the accountability court to try the case again.
Court seeks arguments in NICL corruption case
JIT details demanded
The same bench directed the Sindh government to submit details of the Joint Investigation Teams (JIT) reports of Baldia Factory fire, Uzair Baloch and Nisar Morai.
The court was hearing the petition by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Leader Ali Zaidi asking it to direct the Sindh government to make the JIT reports public. On failure to comply with court orders, the government's lawyer said that the home department was not informed that the JITs reports were to be presented to the court, adding that the Sindh Inspector-General (IG) of Police may have been aware of the court orders. The court was requested to give time to obtain information from the IG. The court remarked that it be informed where the cases were being pursued and whether the statements, under Section 164, had been made part of the cases as yet. The court granting time to the government lawyer adjourned the hearing till November 14.
According to the petition, more than 250 people died in the Baldia fire tragedy but the JIT report was not made public. The JITs of Uzair Baloch and Nisar Morai were also not made public.
Plea for promotion
The SHC issued notices for an immediate hearing to the federal cabinet secretary, high-powered selection board, establishment division secretary, additional attorney-general and others, on a petition filed by former Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo for his promotion to grade 22 as the Sindh IG, A two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the plea. Thebo's lawyer, Mehmood Alam Rizvi, argued that his client was being constantly ignored despite being qualified for grade 22. He said that the selection board is scheduled after a few days and the court must give a clear order. The court, however, said that the orders will be passed after the reply from the concerned officials.
Sindh High Court seeks arguments from defence counsel
The petitioner states, "I am working as an additional IG on grade 21. Officers junior to me are being promoted to grade 22. I stand up to the standards of grade 22 and Sindh IG. The selection board promoted junior officers Mehar Khalid Dad Lak and Bashir Ahmed. This act of the selection board is illegal." The petition requested that Thebo be promoted to grade 22.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2018.