SHC grants bail to Qaim Ali Shah in another NAB inquiry

Restricts anti-graft watchdog from arresting Sharjeel Memon in secret inquiries

The Sindh High Court granted pre-arrest bail to Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday in another inquiry of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah appeared before the court along with his lawyer, Barrister Zameer Ghamro. Shah's counsel apprised the court that NAB has issued a call-up notice to Shah, summoning him on September 25 (today).

Fearing arrest by the bureau, Shah prayed the court to grant protective bail.

Granting bail, the court directed Shah to submit Rs500,000 to the court, and to join NAB's probe. The court also issued notice to the NAB prosecutor for October 15.

The new call up notice pertains to NAB inquiry against alleged corruption with regards to a college in Khandkot.

Shah is also implicated in another NAB inquiry for corruption in Roshan Sindh solar street lights project.

Secret NAB inquiry

Separately, the court restricted NAB from arresting Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sharjeel Memon in any secret inquiry and sought details from the bureau regarding such inquiries against memon.

The court has sought reports pertaining to ongoing hidden or secret inquiries against Memon by NAB earlier as well, remarked Justice Agha. But despite court orders the bureau did not submit these reports, he observed.

The NAB prosecutor maintained that there are two references pending against Memon in Karachi, but details of secret inquiries elsewhere in the country could not be obtained due to the pandemic.

The court restricted NAB from arresting Memon in any such inquiry that he is not aware of and sought reports from the bureau by December 17.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2020.