Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) not to harass the petitioner and to proceed strictly in accordance with the law in a case related to the freezing of assets of a private firm involved in the Upper Kohistan financial scandal.
A bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Faheem Wali heard the petition. Sardar Aslam Nasir represented the petitioner, while Arbab Kaleemullah appeared on behalf of NAB.
The petitioner's counsel informed the court that NAB had frozen his client's assets illegally and without proper authority. Justice Ijaz Anwar questioned how such a large amount of money ended up in Kohistan. The counsel replied that the funds originated from government accounts, and it was NAB's responsibility to determine who transferred them.
He argued that the petitioner is not a prime suspect in the case and that others are accused of embezzling billions. He also claimed that officials from the Accountant General's office were involved and that funds had been deposited into the petitioner's account without his active involvement.
The counsel further stated that while the law requires NAB to confirm asset freezing within 14 days through an accountability court, over 30 days had passed without such confirmation. Justice Anwar noted that the initial summons was dated July 24, which had already passed, and inquired whether the petitioner had complied.
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