NAB files reference against Agha Siraj in corruption case

Sources say that the accused acquired assets to the tune of Rs1.6 billion and that the possessions have been sold

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a reference in an accountability court against Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in a case pertaining to allegedly accumulating assets beyond his known sources of income.

The accountability court in Karachi heard the case against Durrani who was presented by jail authorities under strict security. NAB’s investigation officer presented the corruption reference to the court.

Durrani’s counsel argued that another plea filed by him was still under trial, therefore, “this reference is not maintainable and the court is not necessarily bound to approve it,” he said.

“Our plea should be heard before approving the reference,” he added.

The court said that it will decide if the reference is maintainable or not. Durrani’s counsel argued that the copies of the reference should be provided to him.

The court provided the copies and adjourned the hearing till June 17.

The corruption reference filed against Durrani comprises 13 folders and nominates 20 accused including the Sindh Assembly speaker, his wife, four daughters, son, brother and servants.

Sources associated with NAB said that the accused has allegedly committed corruption of Rs1.6 billion by acquiring assets and that the possessions have been sold.

The illegal assets include bungalows, 35 cars, 350 tola gold and watches worth Rs110 million.

According to Federal Board of Revenue, Durrani declared an income of Rs110 million from 2007 to 2018 earned from agricultural lands.

During interrogation, Durrani mentioned his earnings as Rs80 million. The assets include 11 cars and properties in his son and wife’s name in Karachi and Abbottabad. The payment of the properties was made in the names of his servants.

The court has yet to approve the NAB reference against Durrani and others for hearing.

Having been detained from a hotel in Islamabad on February 20, Durrani was being investigated for allegedly making 352 illegal appointments, the embezzlement of public funds in the construction of the MPA Hostel and the new Sindh Assembly building, as well as the appointment of project directors for these projects.

Earlier, NAB prosecutor Zahid Hussain Baladi had submitted the details of assets allegedly owned by Durrani, saying they were "disproportionate to his known sources of income”.

According to the list prepared by NAB, Durrani allegedly owns 17 movable and immovable benamidar properties, including a bombproof bungalow in his native town of Garhi Yasin in Sindh.