SHC orders removal for Sharjeel Memon’s wife from ECL

Reserves verdict on plea pertaining to failure if RTS, rigging in 2018 polls

The Sindh High Court ordered on Monday the removal of Sadaf Memon's name from the Exit Control List (ECL). Her name was included in the list after she, along with her husband, former provincial minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, was nominated in an assets beyond means reference.

Following this, she filed a plea seeking the removal of her name from the ECL.

According to the plea, she has to frequently visit Dubai, where she runs a business. Plus, the plea states, she also visits her son in England. It moves the court to order the federal government to remove her name from the ECL.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi, heard the plea on Monday.

During the hearing, Justice Agha observed that neither was Sadaf a primary accused in the reference, nor had she been indicted.

Announcing its ruling on the plea, the court allowed Sadaf to travel out of country between September 22, 2020 and October 2, 2020.

Verdict reserved

Meanwhile, a bench comprising Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed and Justice Agha Fasial reserved the verdict on a plea pertaining to the failure of the Result Transmission System and delay in the release 2018 election results.

At the hearing, Advocate Hassan Sabir claimed that the results of Karachi's constituencies were rigged and altered. He maintained that election results to Pak Sarzameen Party's (PSP's) candidates were issued three days after the polls, instead of by the midnight, as per the Election Commission of Pakistan's orders.

The court inquired that why the PSP didn't file a complaint with the ECP on the matter.

Advocate Sabir informed the court that the party had in fact lodged a complaint but the ECP hadn't responded yet.

The court reserved the verdict on the plea and adjourned the hearing.

Illegal land allotment

At another hearing, the bench comprising Justice Agha and Justice Sangi directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference pertaining to illegal allotment of state land in Scheme 33 against accused Javed Iqbal and submit a report within two weeks.

The investigation officer informed the court that accused Iqbal colluded with government officials and illegally purchased 130 acres of land in Scheme 33 in 2006. He said the land was owned by a woman who had died in 2002.

The NAB prosecutor maintained that inquiry against the accused had been completed and the case will be forwarded to NAB headquarters to get the approval for filing a reference.

Iqbal's counsel, Farooq H Naek, pointed out that the NAB had been carrying out the inquiry against his client for last three years. He claimed that the NAB officials were harassing people.

At this, Justice Agha remarked, "Unfortunately, the NAB's performance is disappointing. It would have to review its method of investigation in mega corruption scandals."

The court directed the NAB to file a reference against the accused in the case and submit a report within two weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2020.