PHC division bench asks report from NAB for bail application of Raza Ali in weapons scam case. PHOTO: FILE
An additional sessions judge (ASJ) on Thursday issued arrest warrants for eight police officials for failing to come to court as witnesses in a narcotics case. ASJ Ashfaq Taj ordered the officials be produced before him on February 12.
The eight officials were witnesses in the case of Muhammad Adeel who was arrested on November 28, 2012 for the possession of 143 kilogrammes of narcotics. These officials include ASIs Sajid, Waris Shah and Haji Rehman, sub-inspector Namrad, chief investigation officer Sikandar Shah, muharar Isa Khan, and constables Jaffar Khan and Wisal.
The eight men did not show up despite several orders from the court to appear as witnesses. Their inaction delayed a decision on the case; Adeel is still incarcerated.
Meanwhile in the Rs7 billion weapons scam case, a Peshawar High Court division bench comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ikramullah Khan sought a report from the National Accountability Bureau for the bail application of Raza Ali Khan, brother-in-law of former chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti’s brother Ghazan Hoti.
The court was informed by Raza Ali’s counsel, Umer Farooq Adam, that the accused was arrested without any proof against him.
“The accused is only a relative of the former chief minister and has no role in the procurement of weapons for the police department,” said Adam, appealing to the court to release Raza on bail. The latter is currently imprisoned at Central Jail Peshawar.
The bench then sought comments from NAB regarding the bail application and adjourned the case.
NAB arrested Raza Ali on January 6 and asked for his physical remand but the accused was instead sent to jail on January 31 for 14 days. He has been accused of giving kickbacks worth millions to influential people and his relatives to clear hindrances in awarding weapons contracts.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2014.
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