Trial court grants Memon permission to travel abroad
An accountability court accepted Pakistan Peoples Party MPA and former information minister Sharjeel Memon's request on Tuesday granting him permission to travel abroad for one month.
The Sindh High Court had earlier granted Memon permission to travel abroad conditional on the trial court's approval. Memon is facing two corruption references pertaining to misappropriation of Rs5.78 billion and accumulation of Rs2.43 billion assets beyond known source of income. The PPP leader is on bail in both these cases and have approached SHC for permission to travel abroad.
The petitioner's counsel submitted that Memon was on bail in the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) cases against him and is facing trial. The counsel maintained that his client's name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) on the SHC's directives and moved the court to allow Memon to travel abroad from time to look after his children studying in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
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Memon's counsel submitted that his client's daughter was starting university in Boston, USA, and the MPA wished to accompany her to USA.
The NAB prosecutor had argued that the accused's daughter was not a minor. He maintained that the court may pass any order in accordance with law which may be subjected to the trial court's permission as Memon was required to appear before it.
After completion of arguments, a division bench of the SHC accepted the request subject to the trial court's permission. The bench directed that the order would come into effect for two months from August 14 and directed Memon to submit a surety amount of Rs1 million. The court further directed the MPA to return within one month from when he flew out.
The national anti-graft watchdog has filed a reference accusing Memon of accumulating wealth and assets worth Rs2.43 billion beyond known sources of income. The PPP leader is accused of purchasing properties in benaami persons and relatives' names. Besides, it is alleged that Memon had transferred Rs1.8 billion to foreign accounts through illegal means of hawala hundi via a money exchange company during 2012 to 2016.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2021.