Court orders NAB to submit report on government dept corruption inquiries
NAB is not above the law, says SHC CJ
Sindh High Court. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought a report from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday over the bail pleas of former secretary Ali Ahmed Lund, Suleman Mallah and others who are facing inquiries on corruption in government departments. The division bench, comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Ahmed Ali Sheikh and Justice Omer Sial, remarked that after bothering people for years, they say that these people were not wanted in the inquiry.
The CJ expressed annoyance over the lack of progress in the NAB inquiries and remarked that if the situation remained the same, then NAB director-general would be summoned. The court said that when a call-up notice had been issued, the NAB should sit calmly after issuing it, instead of entering people's homes at midnight. Number of delayed inquiries in Karachi should be reviewed along with the progress that has been made on them. "What else are you doing except bothering people? You people have nothing to say in the court," said the CJ.
The investigation officer informed the court that Mallah was not required by the NAB. The CJ directed the officer to give this statement in black and white. CJ remarked, "NAB officials invade people's houses and offices and snatch their mobile phones. NAB is not superior to the law. The person who is not even wanted in the inquiry has his life made miserable." The CJ ordered the investigation officer to tell Mallah in open court that he was not required in the inquiry. The report from NAB was sought till February 14.
Anti-corruption inspector jailed for falsifying documents in Karachi
Sindh police corruption
The same bench sought arguments from the counsels for accused by February 13 in NAB's reference against former Sindh inspector-general (IG) Ghulam Haider Jamali, additional IG and others related to corruption in the Sindh Police department. The accused had caused a loss of more than Rs150 million to the national exchequer, according to NAB.
Former IG Jamali was declared an absconder in the reference by NAB. The accused include former AIG Tanveer Ahmed Tahir, Fida Hussain Shah, Kamran Rashid, Faisal Basheer Memon, Sarmad Midhat Hussain, Ali Asghar and others. The reference was filed on the complaint of Controller General of Accounts. They were accused of corruption in the police fund. Deduction was made from the salaries of police officials. The accused caused the national treasure a loss of millions of rupees in the name of maintenance of police vehicles and issued contracts without tenders.
Appeal hearing refused
Justice Amjad Ali Sahito in SHC refused to hear the appeal against the sentence awarded in the murder case of the former district and sessions judge. The issue has been forwarded to the CJ for the formation of a new bench.
Hearing of the appeal against the sentence awarded was held before a two-member bench, comprising Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar and Justice Sahito. The anti-terrorism court no. 2 awarded the death sentence to former judge Sikandar Lashari when found guilty. The petitioner said that Lashari facilitated the murder of sessions judge Khalid Hashani's son due to a family dispute.
Hashani's son, Aqib, was murdered in Hyderabad in 2014 by gunshots. The petition filed said that this was a case of family dispute and it doesn't come under terrorism. Justice Sahito refused to hear the plea and forwarded the issue to CJ.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2019.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought a report from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday over the bail pleas of former secretary Ali Ahmed Lund, Suleman Mallah and others who are facing inquiries on corruption in government departments. The division bench, comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Ahmed Ali Sheikh and Justice Omer Sial, remarked that after bothering people for years, they say that these people were not wanted in the inquiry.
The CJ expressed annoyance over the lack of progress in the NAB inquiries and remarked that if the situation remained the same, then NAB director-general would be summoned. The court said that when a call-up notice had been issued, the NAB should sit calmly after issuing it, instead of entering people's homes at midnight. Number of delayed inquiries in Karachi should be reviewed along with the progress that has been made on them. "What else are you doing except bothering people? You people have nothing to say in the court," said the CJ.
The investigation officer informed the court that Mallah was not required by the NAB. The CJ directed the officer to give this statement in black and white. CJ remarked, "NAB officials invade people's houses and offices and snatch their mobile phones. NAB is not superior to the law. The person who is not even wanted in the inquiry has his life made miserable." The CJ ordered the investigation officer to tell Mallah in open court that he was not required in the inquiry. The report from NAB was sought till February 14.
Anti-corruption inspector jailed for falsifying documents in Karachi
Sindh police corruption
The same bench sought arguments from the counsels for accused by February 13 in NAB's reference against former Sindh inspector-general (IG) Ghulam Haider Jamali, additional IG and others related to corruption in the Sindh Police department. The accused had caused a loss of more than Rs150 million to the national exchequer, according to NAB.
Former IG Jamali was declared an absconder in the reference by NAB. The accused include former AIG Tanveer Ahmed Tahir, Fida Hussain Shah, Kamran Rashid, Faisal Basheer Memon, Sarmad Midhat Hussain, Ali Asghar and others. The reference was filed on the complaint of Controller General of Accounts. They were accused of corruption in the police fund. Deduction was made from the salaries of police officials. The accused caused the national treasure a loss of millions of rupees in the name of maintenance of police vehicles and issued contracts without tenders.
Appeal hearing refused
Justice Amjad Ali Sahito in SHC refused to hear the appeal against the sentence awarded in the murder case of the former district and sessions judge. The issue has been forwarded to the CJ for the formation of a new bench.
Hearing of the appeal against the sentence awarded was held before a two-member bench, comprising Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar and Justice Sahito. The anti-terrorism court no. 2 awarded the death sentence to former judge Sikandar Lashari when found guilty. The petitioner said that Lashari facilitated the murder of sessions judge Khalid Hashani's son due to a family dispute.
Hashani's son, Aqib, was murdered in Hyderabad in 2014 by gunshots. The petition filed said that this was a case of family dispute and it doesn't come under terrorism. Justice Sahito refused to hear the plea and forwarded the issue to CJ.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2019.