ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court (SC) overturned on Wednesday the Sindh High Court's (SHC) verdict cancelling Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani's bail in the assets beyond means case.
During the hearing, the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) prosecutor maintained that the provincial assembly speaker’s assets far exceeded his income.
A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, directed the SHC to reconsider its verdict within a period of two months. The SC also instructed the high court to decide the case in light of facts and evidence.
Read Opposition leaders call for removal of Sindh Assembly speaker
In addition, the apex court ordered that a bench comprising senior judges hears the bail plea. “There should be [some] basis for granting bail,” Justice Bandial observed.
The prosecutor further stated that Durrani owns more assets than his known sources of income justify.
The SHC, on Dec 13, 2019, granted bails to Durrani and others nominated in an assets beyond means reference, while ordering to include the accused's names in the Exit Control List.
The court also directed the accused to submit their passports and Rs1 million each as surety against their bails.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ