SC rejects bail plea of municipal officer in corruption reference

Parwani of Garhi Yasin taluka is accused of embezzling funds meant for 25 government schemes

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) rejected on Monday the post-arrest bail plea by a municipal officer of Garhi Yasin taluka, Ramesh Parwani, accused of involvement in a case pertaining to misappropriation of government funds.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, heard the petition at the Karachi registry. The court maintained that the plea, filed by the suspect at Deh Meh, had already been rejected by the Sindh High Court (SHC).

Parwani is allegedly involved in embezzlement of funds meant for 25 government schemes. The court demanded the counsel of the accused to prove that when the money for the schemes was withdrawn, his client was not posted there.

The counsel failed to satisfy the court after which Justice Shah said that some of the suspects had already given plea bargain requests pertaining to the scandal. The court has already dismissed bail pleas of many of the suspects, he said. On the other hand, Justice Baqar maintained that corruption has incurred a huge deficit to the national treasury and thus the court cannot grant bail to the accused.

Court bashes NAB over incomplete inquiries

Verdict reserved

The SC reserved its verdict on a petition pertaining to the forced retirement of former inspector Syed Naveen Nasir, who is accused of smuggling, dacoity, assisting Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in targeted killings and possessing a criminal record.

A three-member bench comprising Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Maqbool Baqar heard the case in which the counsel for the petitioner maintained that based on ill-intention, his client was forcefully retired. He requested that Nasir be allowed to resume his job.

Sindh additional advocate general maintained that actions will be taken against Nasir for possession of a criminal record. The court asked that if the inspector was involved in a serious crime, why was there was no mention in criminal proceedings. The court inquired about the evidence based on which action was taken against the accused.

The counsel for the government, Sarwar Khan, maintained that according to a joint investigation team's report, Nasir used to assist MQM in target killings. He also allegedly assisted in a bank robbery. He was forcefully retired after guilt was proven. The court reserved the decision on completion of the arguments. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2019.