SC directs accountability court to wrap up corruption case against PPP leader in two months

Anti-graft body arrested Bhayo on charges of suspicious transition of about Rs4 million

ISLAMABAD: The top court on Tuesday directed accountability court to wrap the corruption case against former lawmaker Allah Dino Bhayo.

A three-member bench led by Justice Mushir Alam heard a bail plea filed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Bhayo on charges of suspicious transition of about Rs4 million during his tenure as the head of the party’s Sindh chapter from 2013 to 2015.

During the hearing, NAB prosecutor informed the bench that six out of 12 witnesses have recorded statements. The claim was contradicted by Bhayo’s counsel, who maintained that only seven out of 16 witnesses have recorded statements.



Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel observed that no witness had been presented in trial since April 2019. The judge was irked by a lack of preparation by the politician’s counsel. “In the last hearing, you complained that the trial was in limbo. Today, you claim witnesses have recorded statements.”

The counsel maintained that there was no development in the case since September 2019 and requested the bench to direct speedy trial. Meanwhile, Bhayo withdrew the bail application.

Directing the accountability court to wrap the case in two months, the apex court noted that the suspect was free to file a post-arrest bail petition until the completion of the trial.