Bail of ex-Rawat UC official linked with graft probe

SC says if no progress is made until the end of winter break, it will review the bail plea

ISLAMABAD:

An application for bail filed by the former secretary of the Rawat union council in the federal capital has been linked with the progress made in the anti-corruption reference pending against him.

This was directed on Tuesday by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice Mushir Alam as he presided over a case pertaining to the bail plea filed by Rawat UC’s former secretary Javed Chaudhry.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Chaudhry’s counsel, Shah Khawar, argued before the court that his client had been arrested around 18 months ago while the assistant commissioners (ACs) who had been nominated in the same case were roaming free.

He asserted that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not arrest any other suspects in the reference merely because they held public offices.

He asked would the skies fall or would the earth split open should his client be provided bail.

At this, Justice Alam said that the trial in a corruption reference filed by NAB against the suspect has begun and that statements of witnesses are being recorded as well.

He added that the petitioner has been charged by NAB.

NAB’s representative told the court that a conviction in the case was delayed due to delays in recording statements of witnesses.

The lawyer assured the bench that the trial will not be delayed because of the apex anti-graft watchdog.

He added that NAB is due to present its witnesses in the hearing of the reference on Wednesday (today).

The petitioner’s counsel, however, argued that the arrest of a suspect disturbs their entire family apart from impacting potential suitors of their daughters.

Khawar further argued that many convicted criminals were living in the same apartments which the court had ordered to confiscate.

Justice Alam stated that they will review the progress made in Chaudhry’s trial until the culmination of the upcoming winter vacations.

He added that the court will review its decision on granting bail to the petitioner if no progress is observed to be made in the anti-graft trial.

After both sides concluded their arguments, the court adjourned the case until the end of its winter break.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2020.