NAB plans to tighten noose around Rana Sanaullah

Prosecution wing told to make efforts to have PML-N leader’s bail rejected by court

LAHORE:

The country’s top anti-graft body has decided to step up its action against PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah and directed its prosecution wing to make efforts to have his bail rejected by court.

Investigation officer Mohammad Waqas briefed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore DG Shahzad Saleem that the PML-N leader was not cooperating with the anti-corruption body in its probe into the assets beyond means case against him.

According to sources, the officer also told the DG that Sanaullah could tamper with the documentary evidence against him.

The NAB Lahore DG was further informed that Sanaullah, a member of the National Assembly, was an influential person and could pressure the witnesses in the case.

The NAB Lahore chief directed the prosecution wing to step up its efforts for having the PML-N leader’s bail rejected by court.

In March this year, the Lahore High Court had granted ad-interim bail to Rana Sanaullah in the NAB case against him. It also restrained NAB from illegally harassing the PML-N leader.

The former law minister had challenged NAB’s inquiry in LHC which questioned the investigation of acquiring assets by two departments under two different allegations.

In his petition, Sanaullah claimed that all the assets which are owned by him, his family members and other relatives have allegedly been found to have been acquired through narcotics trade. A challan has since been submitted and the proceedings are pending before the ‘Special Court’ constituted under the Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 1997.

But another inquiry by NAB has been started on the same assets under the allegation of having been acquired through corruption or corrupt practices which is tantamount to the mockery of the law.

He prayed upon the court that assumption of jurisdiction, issuance of impugned call up notices and proceedings in pursuance thereof be kindly declared as mala-fide, illegal and without lawful authority and the same be quashed.

The inquiry against Sanaullah was upgraded to an active investigation during a regional board meeting of NAB held on June 19 this year.