Court extends Agha Siraj Durrani’s physical remand

Durrani was arrested in a NAB inquiry pertaining to assets exceeding his income

KARACHI: An accountability court extended on Friday the physical remand of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani till March 11. After his remand ended, Durrani was presented before the court by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials who maintained that interrogation about several assets and properties had to be done.

The Sindh Assembly speaker was arrested in a NAB inquiry pertaining to assets exceeding his income. The NAB's investigation officer (IO) informed the court that payments of over Rs30 million to Rs40m had been made and the people whose names were on the pay orders also needed to be interrogated. According to NAB, transactions were made from the account of an aide, identified as Gulzar Ahmed, who has gone underground but still has Rs860m in his account. NAB officials maintained that Durrani was being provided better facilities than he would have at home and is well taken care of.



The court remarked that why the remand was needed should be mentioned. The NAB IO stated that Durrani was attending the Sindh Assembly daily, which hindered the investigation process. He added that there were various bungalows possessed by Durrani which were constructed through Ahmed. Besides, three flats have been booked by his daughter, Shehnaz Durrani. The IO said that efforts were being made for Ahmed's arrest but currently he was on the run and Durrani's remand needed to be extended to complete investigation of his assets and properties.

Counsel for Durrani, Shahab Sarki argued that NAB built up a case over assets for which the money trail and other documents have been provided. He maintained that the investigation was to be done on the basis of these documents and NAB had already raided Durrani's house and taken what they wanted without providing a list of the things taken. He questioned why NAB needed custody and further remand. He stated that they had cooperated in the investigations and had provided all documents including sale agreements. Do they want thumb prints forcefully taken that they are seeking extension of remand, asked the counsel.

Durrani has spent more time in the Assembly than in our custody, responded NAB IO.

The Sindh Assembly speaker stated before the court that NAB officials misbehaved with his family members even though he was cooperating. He said he expected justice from the court. He maintained that he was being kept in a small room with poor ventilation and asked if he was a criminal that he could not attend the Assembly. Do they intend to end my speakership, asked Durrani. "Prove me guilty of anything, sentence me and then talk to me like this," he said adding NAB's only aim was to pressurise him.



His counsel argued that Durrani was not nominated in terrorism case but he was being kept in a room without a window. He maintained that NAB was only harassing his client and their behaviour was regrettable.

The court remarked that NAB should satisfy for what reason and for how long the remand was required. NAB prosecutor said a lot of time was needed because complete investigation of the account had to be done.

The court directed Sarki to tell his client to cooperate and directed NAB IO to report about the inquiry's progress while extending Durrani's physical remand till March 11.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2019.