NAB should end corruption: SC

Bench approves bail application of accused in missing oil tankers case

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court, while hearing a bail petition of an accused in the disappearance of oil tankers case, remarked on Thursday that corruption was rampant in the country and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should end this menace.

The bench – headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin – granted bail to Muhammad Aslam, one of the accused in the Nandipur power plant and oil tankers disappearance case.

At the outset of the hearing, Zubair Khalid, the lawyer for the accused, informed the court that his client was accused in the case of 134 missing oil tankers, carrying supplies to the Nandipur Power Project, which caused tens of millions of rupees loss.

The lawyer said that there was a total of 34 accused in the reference but NAB had arrested just one suspect. The bench expressed its displeasure. Justice Alam said that NAB should not discriminate, while Justice Amin added that the NAB was not using its powers in an equitable manner.

The judges observed that a total of 134 tankers were missing and NAB has arrested the person who was accused over six missing tankers. Justice Amin further said that NAB should end corruption, which was rampant. He added that all defendants should be treated equally.

The special prosecutor of NAB informed the court that the bureau first nabbed the mastermind. Justice Alam said that one accused stole 12 tankers, another 17 and a third one 13 oil tankers but NAB arrested the man accused of six missing tankers.

Justice Akhtar said that NAB should explain the arrest of just one accused. The special prosecutor said that warrants had been issued for nine other accused in the case. However, Justice Amin said that only warrants had been issued but no arrests were made.

The court sought report from NAB on the arrest of other accused in the case and granted bail to accused Muhammad Aslam.