An accountability court judge has questioned the grounds of the case against MQM-Pakistan's senior deputy convener Syed Mustafa Kamal and others concerning the allotment of government land in Clifton. "Where is the allegation of financial gain?" the judge asked on Saturday while hearing a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) petition seeking restoration of a reference related to land allotment in Clifton.
He criticised the NAB for its 'selective approach', stating that NAB officials cannot overlook their own shortcomings and must comply with the law rather than selectively pursuing cases. He cautioned NAB officials against 'shooting arrows in the air'. Kamal and the other accused were present in the courtroom.
Hasan Sabir Advocate, the counsel for Kamal, argued that his client has consistently attended all court hearings, while NAB has repeatedly delayed proceedings by misinterpreting Supreme Court rulings. Advocate Sabir pointed out that NAB currently has no specific reference against his client, as the amended reference had been returned to the court without NAB providing any arguments. He also argued that Kamal is not accused of receiving any financial benefit.
The judge remarked that according to a Supreme Court decision, the reference should not have been filed. The judge reprimanded NAB officials for their selective application of the law. "You cannot ignore your incompetence; do not shoot arrows in the air," the judge remarked while pointing to a discrepancy in NAB's approach compared to cases involving figures like Dr Azam and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
After hearing arguments, the court reserved its decision on NAB's request to restore the reference until August 26.
While speaking to the media outside the court, Kamal announced that the MQM-P will host a youth convention at the Expo Centre on July 28 which is aimed to address youth frustration and provide a platform for young men aged 16 to 28. He referred to the pressing issues of unemployment, economic crisis, and inflation, saying that MQM-P is committed to addressing these challenges.
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