BHC grants protective bail to Akram Durrani

Former K-P CM faces graft, assets beyond means charges in three cases

QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Thursday granted 15 days’ protective bail to former Khyber -Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Akram Khan Durrani.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Hameedullah Baloch heard Akram Khan Durrani’s petition.

The BHC approved his request and granted protective bail in three cases including alleged corruption in a housing scheme and ownership of assets beyond means.

Opposition finally on same page on ‘Azadi March’

Talking to reporters after the BHC hearing, Akram Durrani termed it strange that a democratically elected provincial chief minister had spoken of blocking a peaceful protest even before its occurrence.

Calling it the K-P chief minister’s foolishness, Durrani warned that, if an attempt was made to sabotage the JUI-F’s peaceful protest, the chief minister could be locked down in his own house by JUI-F workers.

Asked about his bail request, he said he had been informed that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) could arrest him upon reaching Islamabad airport which was why he had sought protective bail.

He also asserted that the JUI-F ‘Azaadi March’ could not be stopped as the party chief had given a clear deadline.

"All parties are supporting the march, which has clearly put the government in discomfort”, he said.

He claimed that the march was against inflation as well as government policies and that doctors, teachers and lawyers were all protesting for their rights.

Raucous protest mars assembly session

"The July 25, 2018 election was unacceptable to all, which was why Imran Khan had been termed a ‘selected’ prime minister. He can’t even stay outside Pakistan's embassy during his visits to the United States (US) for fear of being arrested for some reason", the former K-P chief minister claimed.

According to the accountability watchdog notices, Akram Durrani had been directed to appear before Investigation Officer (IO) and Deputy Director Mohammad Adeel Akhtar at the Rawalpindi NAB office on Oct 7.

The National Accountability Bureau has reportedly ordered Akram Khan Durrani to present records and details of assets owned by him as well as his family members, including his wife and children.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2019.