SHC seeks reply from NAB over Sharjeel Memon’s placement on ECL

Memon's petition argues for removal from ECL on medical grounds

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court sought on Friday replies from relevant authorities regarding the plea to remove the name of former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Sharjeel Inam Memon from the Exist Control List (ECL). A two-member bench, comprising Justice Omar Sial and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, heard the plea.

The court expressed its annoyance over the non-submission of reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

NAB prosecutor maintained that Memon is imprisoned and facing serious allegations of corruption. Justice Sial remarked that including the name on ECL is a violation of fundamental rights regardless of the accused being in prison.

The plea filed by Memon argues for removal from ECL on medical grounds as he wants to go abroad for treatment.

The former MPA has been accused of corruption worth more than Rs5 billion. The court directed for replies to be submitted by the next hearing.



Notices issued

The SHC issued notice on Friday to federal minister Faisal Vawda who filed a plea against Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, alleging corruption of funds worth billions of rupees by the city government. The same bench heard the plea.

The federal minister did not appear in court and neither did his counsel. Justice Sial remarked that it appeared as if Vawda was no longer interested in pursuing the case.

Akhtar's counsel, Shaukat Hayat, said that his client was on the same page as the NAB. Justice Sial remarked that it was surprising to hear that Akhtar and NAB were on the same page. The court room erupted with laughter at these remarks.

Hayat argued that the plea was filed to garner sympathy from people and place Akhtar at a disadvantage before the elections. He added that Vawda's plea was not maintainable.

The NAB prosecutor argued that the notice against Akhtar was the issue at hand and the investigation against the same was in its final stages.

The plea filed by the federal minister maintains that Akhtar was given billions of rupees over a period of 20 months for development work in the city but despite the funds, the city's condition did not change. The plea states that corruption and financial irregularities are prevailing in every sector of the government and NAB should be instructed to investigate financial irregularities by Akhtar. The plea maintains that Akhtar has not remained Sadiq [honest] or Ameen [trustworthy]. It asks for an independent audit of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) funds and for all accounts to be frozen till the audit is complete.

The court issued notice to Vawda, directing him to appear before it and satisfy the court regarding the maintainability of the plea, which would otherwise be rejected. The hearing was adjourned indefinitely.

Misplaced records

SHC directed the investigation officer (IO) on Friday to complete the inquiry against Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Additional Director Atta Abbas and submit a report within a month.

The same bench heard the case. NAB IO informed that Abbas was a Grade 5 employee, but had been serving on four Grade 19 positions.

The IO said that the file containing the record pertaining to the accused's promotion had been misplaced by the accused and the file should be sought. He maintained that the document was fake which is why the file had been hidden.

The counsel for the accused, Muhammad Farooq, argued that his client was innocent and NAB's accusations were incorrect.

Court directed for the inquiries to be completed within a month and adjourned the hearing.



Reduced seats

SHC sought suggestions and replies by January 23 from the health secretary on a petition relating the reduction of 50% of seats at the Benazir Bhutto Medical College due to the nonavailability of facilities. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal heard the plea

The court inquired of the health secretary how they would secure the future of these students. Health secretary said that the college was facing mismanagement, adding that the principal was the project director and was also involved in irregularities in the funds.

Principal Anjum Rehman said that they had responded to the questions put forth by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). The court ordered Benazir Bhutto Medical College and the health department to resolve the issue by consulting each other.

The health secretary said that Rehman had been serving in the principal's post for five years and had acquired a stay order from the court when she had been transferred.

The SHC sought suggestions and a written reply from the health secretary and instructed the principal to meet health department officials for consultation on Friday. The court remarked that the principal should also present a list of the required teachers on the same day.

Addressing the health secretary, the court remarked that he should mention in writing by when the issue would be resolved. The court remarked that it will be assumed that the government doesn't know how to run Benazir Bhutto Medical College if he didn't do the commitment now. The health secretary said that the principal calls in favors to get the college summaries approved. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2019.