Hearing of PTI MPA’s bail plea adjourned

Lawyers argued that after amendment in NAB Ordinance, the court did not have power to hear reference

KARACHI:

The accountability court adjourned the hearing of the bail plea of PTI member Sindh Assembly, Firdous Shamim Naqvi in the NAB inquiry. Next hearing will be on July 30.

According to NAB, Firdous Shamim Naqvi is accused of causing loss to the national exchequer. Firdous Shamim Naqvi had illegally acquired government land on a 30-year lease.

Firdous was a member of the Board of Directors of Habib Group at that time. Investigation is under way against Firdous Shamim Naqvi.

Meanwhile, the accountability court issued notices to the prosecutor NAB on the application of former finance minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and other accused regarding the jurisdiction of the reference.

Hafeez Sheikh and other accused appeared in the court. The bail of co-accused Salman Siddiqui was submitted in the court.

The accused filed a petition regarding the jurisdiction of the reference. The lawyers argued that after the amendment in the NAB Ordinance, the court did not have the power to hear the reference.

The court issued notice to the NAB prosecutor and adjourned the hearing till July 25.

According to the NAB, the accused are blamed for causing $11.125 million to the national exchequer in the development of software for other ports, including Port Qasim.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2022.