Evidence found against Durrani, says NAB prosecutor

SHC seeks arguments from defence lawyers, rejects Durrani's request to cancel his arrest warrant

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought arguments on Tuesday from the defence counsels over the bail pleas filed by Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani, Masihuddin and other accused, while rejecting the request for cancellation of Durrani's arrest warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A two-member bench comprising Justice Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi heard the bail pleas.

Durrani's counsel prayed the court to cancel the arrest warrant issued against his client.



Justice Kalhoro asked how the arrest warrant could be cancelled now when action had already been taken over it. The court rejected the request.

The NAB prosecutor said that the reference against 20 accused, including Durrani, has been filed. "Durrani is in jail, his family has fled the country," said the prosecutor. He maintained that NAB has found evidence pertaining to 35 cars and properties worth millions of rupees owned by Durrani.

The investigation against Durrani and the other accused has been completed, the prosecutor told the court. He argued that Durrani misused his authority, made illegal appointments, committed corruption and owns assets beyond known sources of income.

Durrani's counsel argued that his client was in prison so the bail plea should be heard.

Justice Kalhoro said that immediate hearing of the plea was not possible due to summer vacations.

The court sought arguments from the counsels on August 7.

Illegal assets

The same bench accepted NAB official's request and granted more time for the filing of the reference pertaining to illegal assets against former minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar while also extending Lanjar's bail.

NAB prosecutor said that the inquiry against Lanjar has been completed and the reference has been sent to NAB chairperson for approval.

The reference will be filed after the inquiry is converted into an investigation, said the prosecutor. He asked the court for an extension for filing the reference.

The court directed NAB officials to file the reference against Lanjar and adjourned the hearing till August 22. The court also extended Lanjar's bail till August 22.

Plea rejected

Separately, the same bench announced the reserved verdict over the plea filed by former petroleum minister Dr Asim. SHC rejected Dr Asim's plea against the verdict of the accountability court in the corruption reference of Rs462b against him.

The bench directed the accountability court to continue the proceedings of the reference in light of the documents available to it.

Dr Asim argued in his plea that NAB has not included the complete inquiry report of December 2012 by the Competition Commission of Pakistan in the inquiry.

A copy of the verdict by the Competition Commission of Pakistan is available in the reference, he maintained, adding that the commission carried out an inquiry on the issue of importing fertiliser during the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) regime. The accountability court had rejected Dr Asim's plea.

Investigation complete

The bench also adjourned the hearing of the bail plea of former ports and shipping minister Kamran Michael till August 22.

The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the investigation against Michael and other accused in the case has been completed and the reference has been sent to the NAB chairperson for approval.

Earlier, SHC had suspended interim bails of Michael and co-accused in the case. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Michael is accused of illegally allotting three commercial and residential apartment plots at prime locations of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Cooperative Housing Society to his favourite persons.

Micheal held the portfolio of ports and shipping minister from 2013 to 2016, and has held several cabinet posts under different governments.



The NAB chairperson had ordered an inquiry against Michael in January 2018 for alleged misuse of authority.

'Illegal construction'

Meanwhile, another two-member bench comprising Justice Shafi Muhammad Siddiqui and Justice Mahmood A Khan issued notices to the Sindh Building Control Authority and school owners over a plea against the establishment of a school in a residential unit in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

The petitioner's counsel argued that schools were being established in residential units despite the Supreme Court's orders. He maintained that the apex court had ordered that no further commercial construction can be carried out in residential areas but these orders were being openly violated. He said that Minhaj School was established in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 4 which is a residential area. The court issued notices to SBCA and the school's owners seeking their reply.

*With additional input from PPI 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2019.