NICVD graft inquiry will be completed, SHC told

Court seeks replies from FPSC over plea contending question paper for 2019 CSS exams was leaked

The national anti-graft watchdog informed the Sindh High Court on Tuesday that it would be continuing its inquiry into allegations of corruption at the National Institute of Cardiovacular Diseases.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi was hearing the bail pleas of those accused in the case pertaining to misappropriation of funds at the health facility.

The National Accountability Bureau's prosecutor informed the court that the bureau headquarters has forwarded the case records back to Karachi with the instructions to continue the inquiry. The court will be informed of the progress once the inquiry is completed, he said.

Following this, the bench adjourned the hearing till March 16.

According to NAB, the accused were appointed at the health facility on high salaries despite lacking experience of working at a hospital. The anti-graft body maintains that several employees at the facility were appointed illegally and the accused committed corruption worth billions of rupees.

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Leaked question paper

A bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar sought the Federal Public Service Commission chairperson's reply over a plea claiming that the question paper for the Central Superior Services exam in 2019 was leaked.

The petitioner's counsel contended that the CSS testing process in 2019 was not transparent. He maintained that an FIR was lodged regarding the leaked question paper and FPSC officials were also arrested after the Federal Investigation Agency's investigation confirmed the paper leak.

The petitioner prayed the court to nullify the 2019 CSS examination and direct the FPSC to conduct the examination again.

The court sought a reply from the FPSC chairperson and asked the federal body to explain why the examination was not conducted again if the question paper was leaked.

Underage marriage case

Meanwhile, hearing the plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to a middle-aged man Azhar Ali, who entered marriage with a teenage girl allegedly after abducting her, the SHC sought case records from the trial court.

The petitioner's counsel contended that Azhar is accused of child abuse and is not appearing before the trial court since he was granted bail. The counsel prayed the court to cancel Azhar's bail and send him to jail.

The court sought case records from the trial court and adjourned the hearing till February 15.

Report sought

Another two-member bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, sought the progress report from Counter Terrorism Department of the case pertaining to Umar Shaikh and Zia Shaikh, while hearing a plea seeking their recovery.

During the hearing, the CTD investigation SP stated that Zia was arrested from Gujranwala while Umar had already been apprehended for his involvement in serious cases.

The petitioner's counsel, advocate Shabana Shaikh contended that her nephews, Zia and Umar, were picked from their house in Hyderabad. Following this, the CTD officials announced the arrests of Khalid and declared Zia and Umar terrorists, she said. Neither Zia nor Umar is affiliated with any religious or political party, she added.

She moved the court to seek an explanation from the CTD officials.

The court sought a progress report from the CTD and adjourned the hearing.

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Money laundering case

Separately, hearing a plea challenging the transfer of the money laundering case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder and others from Karachi to Islamabad, the high court sought the investigation report from FIA.

The FIA officials informed the court that a joint-investigation team was formed for the investigation of the case. The draft of the investigation report has been prepared and soon the case challan will also be submitted in the trial court, stated the FIA representatives, adding that evidence has been found implicating accused Rehan Mansoor for money laundering.

The petitioner's counsel contended that the allegations against Mansoor are false.

The court sought the investigation report from the FIA and adjourned the hearing till February 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2021.