SHC irked by NAB’s slow probe

Bench notes pandemic does not hinder NAB when it wants to take someone to task

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) expressed annoyance on Thursday over the slow-paced investigation by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials in a reference pertaining to illegal recruitment and corruption in Sindh Police. It further ordered officials to send a copy of the court order to the NAB chairperson.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Omar Sial and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi, was hearing the case, where Justice Sial remarked that the NAB quickly completes the inquiry for political cases in which it is interested.

At this, the prosecutor claimed the investigation officer (IO) had contracted coronavirus and so the investigation has not been completed.

"Does NAB have only one IO?" asked Justice Sial, adding that coronavirus did not bother NAB when it wanted to take someone to task.

The judge further pointed out that the NAB prosecutor general had attended a meeting of the NAB executive board, while the prosecutor had said that he was ill. "Does the coronavirus not affect anyone at the NAB executive board meeting?"

The court directed to send a copy of the court order regarding the NAB investigation to the anti-graft watchdog's chairperson, saying he should know what the bureau did in the courts.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till November 11.

Assets beyond means

Separately, the same bench expressed displeasure with the NAB Sukkur prosecutor in the assets beyond means case against former Sindh Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, seeking a progress report on whether a reference would be filed at the next hearing.

The prosecutor told the court that they had transferred the reference to the NAB headquarters in Islamabad for approval after completing the investigation.

The court expressed annoyance that the reference had not been filed despite the inquiry being completed, observing that it appeared NAB did not want to file a reference against Lanjar.

The prosecutor informed the bench that he had written two letters to remind the NAB headquarters about the approval of the reference.

"Even in a high profile case, NAB has shown such negligence," noted Justice Sial.

The prosecutor stated the reference had not yet been approved, though there was a NAB executive board meeting on Wednesday.

The court sought a progress report about whether the reference would be filed against the former provincial minister in the next hearing, extending his interim bail until October 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2020.