Weapons scam: PHC extends bail before arrest of former CM’s brother

Directs NAB to submit complete report on investigation by Apr 10, reserves verdict on former IGP, Raza Ali’s petitions

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit its complete record in the weapons procurement case till April 10 and reserved its verdict on bail petitions of former IGP Malik Naveed and Raza Ali Khan.

A division bench comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Ikramullah Khan also extended the bail before arrest of another accused, Amir Ghazan Hoti, the brother of former chief minister Amir Haider Hoti, till April 10.



The counsel for Raza argued before the court that his client has been dragged into the case for being Ghazan’s brother-in-law and has nothing to do with politics or the weapons scam. “My client has nothing to do with this case. He has been included as he is related to the Hoti family,” the lawyer told the court, asking the bench to set aside his arrest orders.

Naveed’s counsel said his client cannot be declared as the sole perpetrator in the case and added NAB has set free six other police officials even though references were submitted against them.

“To issue an arrest warrant for Naveed and set free other police officials is mere discrimination,” said the former IGP’s counsel.

NAB deputy prosecutor general Muhammad Jamil Khan, however, said, “Naveed is accused of embezzlement of Rs2.03 billion and a reference has been filed against him.”

He argued that according to the statement of Arshad Majeed, the main witness and a weapons contractor, Naveed is the only official to have benefited from the scam. If he needs bail on medical grounds, a medical board should be formed, argued Jamil, adding bail can only be granted on the recommendation of a medical board.

The prosecutor informed the court that according to the statements of witnesses, Naveed provided Rs195 million to Ghazan and Rs3 million to Raza. “This has also been confirmed by two other witnesses, Zahid and Afzal,” said Jamil.

Ghazan’s counsel argued that NAB has involved his client without providing any evidence, therefore, the bureau should be issued a notice in this regard.

The court also issued a notice to the NAB chairman to submit the complete report of the case.

Moreover, NAB’s prosecutor informed the court that four army officials, Colonel Iftikhar, Major Khurram Shaikh, Major Awais and Major Tabasum Daud, who were allegedly involved in the case, have been court martialed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2014.