Court scolds IO for failing to complete probe against Durrani

Investigation report awaits approval of NAB chairperson, says IO

KARACHI: An accountability court expressed on Friday annoyance with the official of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for failing to complete the investigation against Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, who stands accused in a case pertaining to assets beyond means.

Durrani was produced before the court amid high security. The judge asked the investigation officer (IO) to explain why the investigation against the speaker could not be completed even after two months. The IO replied that a probe report had been forwarded to the NAB headquarters for approval from the NAB chairperson.

Durrani's counsel argued that his client's arrest was illegal and the NAB should be directed to produce all records of their investigation. The IO said that action against the speaker was taken on the directives of the NAB chairperson.

The court adjourned the hearing till 21 May.

The Sindh High Court (SHC), on April 24, had ordered the NAB to complete its investigation against Durrani within four weeks.

The speaker had filed a petition in the high court seeking bail and challenging his arrest in corruption inquiries. The speaker was arrested by the NAB from Islamabad in February, earlier this year.

Illegal allotment

An accountability court announced the verdict in a case pertaining to the illegal allotment of public properties and released former land utilisation secretary Ghulam Mustafa Phul and others.



Those released include Abubakar Jatt and Aziz Jatt, besides the former land utilisation secretary. The NAB had filed a reference against the accused in 2017. According to the NAB, former land and revenue secretary misused his authority. Accused illegally converted 70 acres of industrial land in Bagh-e-Korangi into residential land.

Lawyer of accused, Shaukat Hayat, argued that this was a false allegation and theNAB couldn't provide proofs in court.

None of the eight witnesses gave statements against the accused.

Former land and utilisation secretary didn't misuse his authority. Terming the other three accused innocent, the court released them.

With additional reporting from PPI 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2019.