In search of justice: Another PHC judge declines hearing weapons scam case

Judge Musarrat Hilali stated she is acquainted with one accused and would not be able to deliver independent judgment.

PESHAWAR:

The case of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Peshawar High Court for summoning six senior police officials in the multi-billion-rupee weapons procurement scam was again referred to another bench when a judge excused herself.

NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Jamil Saraf informed a division bench of Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan that the accountability court on March 21 refused to summon the six senior serving and retired police officials after which NAB approached the high court.

Saraf further told the high court the bureau has filed a complete reference of corruption, naming 10 suspects in the case which also includes the six accused under question.

The case pertains to the dubious procurement of weapons and other equipment for the provincial police in 2008-10.

On Monday, the accountability court which had reserved its judgment on NAB’s application of summoning the six suspects, could not deliver its verdict as the bureau has approached the high court. Former IGP Malik Naveed, former chief minister Amir Haider Hoti’s brother Ghazan Hoti, Ghazan’s distant relative Raza Ali Khan and budget officer Javed Khan were produced before the court of Judge Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. Later, the court adjourned the hearing to June 14.

The six suspects include then additional IGP and now Frontier Constabulary Commandant Abdul Majeed Khan, former additional IGP (operations) Abdul Latif Khan, Central Police Office DIG Sajid Ali Khan, former DIG headquarters Muhammad Suleman Khan, then AIG Establishment CPO Khashil Alam and former DIG Telecommunications Sadiq Kamal Orakzai.

However, the accountability court had stated previously that the status of these types of accused is neither highlighted nor defined as the NAB reference is mum in this regard and thus refused to summon them.

Upon hearing Saraf’s arguments, Justice Afridi, who was leading the bench, observed that he has already refused to hear the case of Ghazan Hoti and thus the case will be heard by another bench.

On Friday, Justice Musarrat Hilali also excused herself from hearing the case, saying she is acquainted with one of the accused officials and thus it would not be possible to deliver justice independently, adding it will be appropriate for another bench to hear the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2014.