PPP leader Khursheed Shah withdraws bail plea from SC

'Decides to remain in jail' for more time; approach high court over hardship, delay in trial

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) minister Syed Khursheed Shah withdrew on Friday his bail plea from the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The PPP leader has decided to continue to remain behind bars for some more time after the withdrawal of his bail.

The veteran PPP leader will now approach the high court over the hardship and delay in his trial in the case.

A day before, on June 3, the lawyer for the PPP leader sought time from the Supreme Court for consultation with his client on withdrawal of his bail application in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference case.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, and Justice Aminud Din Khan, heard the post-arrest bail plea filed by Shah through his lawyer, Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan.

During the proceedings, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood said that the court did not want to close the door of high court on Shah. He told Advocate Khan that it would be appropriate to withdraw the bail application and approach the high court.

Read NAB doesn’t pursue the powerful: SC

The judge said that if the case was dismissed by the high court, appeals could be heard by the apex court on all points. But, he added, if the apex court dismissed the appeal, Khursheed Shah would have no other option left.

Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan requested the bench that he would inform the court about withdrawing the bail plea after consulting his client. The court then postponed the hearing. The court also adjourned the hearing of pre-arrest bail of Khurshid Shah’s son and Shah’s wives.

Earlier, at the outset of the hearing, Justice Sardar Tariq asked how many foreign visits did Khursheed Shah’s family make, saying that according to NAB, there were 140 foreign visits. Khan replied that travel expenses of Shah were not part of the reference.

The judge also asked about the independence of Shah’s family members. Makhdoom Ali Khan responded that it was clear in the tax returns how long the family was dependent.

NAB had arrested Shah on September 18, 2019 from Islamabad. He is accused of transferring an amenity plot in the Sukkur Cooperative Society under his name to build a bungalow, besides owning hotels, filling stations and bungalows registered under the names of his front men and benami companies.