Bail denied: ‘Corrupt elements move freely until courts intervene’

The court turned down bail request for the three accused persons.

PESHAWAR:

Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan on Monday said authorities are hesitant to arrest those involved in corruption unless courts intervene.

Justice Khan made the observation while hearing a bail plea for three people held for allegedly embezzling Rs70.74 million from the office of Controller Military Accounts.  “Tauqeer Sadiq was moving freely and it was the apex court which intervened to have him arrested,” said Justice Khan while referring to last week’s arrest of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s former chief.



The counsel for Account Officer Mehar Jamal, and Assistant Account Officers Wali Ayaz and Abdul Karim, said his clients were accused of misappropriation of Rs70.74 million in 2006. He argued the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested his clients, but neither arrested nor interrogated the army officials who were also allegedly involved in the scam.

In response, FIA’s counsel Jamil Warsak and FIA Investigation Officer Inspector Syed Fazal Akbar told the court some of the army officials involved in the embezzlement were court-martialed when they were found guilty.

Justice Khan remarked the National Accountability Bureau, Anti-Corruption Establishment, FIA and police do not take action against corrupt elements unless courts issue orders. The court later turned down bail request for the three accused persons.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2013.