Off the hook: Former DPO released after plea bargain

Rs43.2 million paid by Waqif Khan, who was arrested for possessing illegal property.

PESHAWAR:

After he paid Rs43.2 million to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under its plea bargain system, an accountability court on Tuesday ordered the release of former district police officer Waqif Khan.

The court of Judge Zarqaish Sani was informed that the accused was arrested in the case of possessing illegal property in Sethi Town and other areas during his tenure in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police department.

Waqif Khan was arrested on May 8 and a statement issued after his arrest stated that the suspect’s assets include a plaza in Sethi Town, Rs30 million worth of investments, several residential houses in Saddar, Hayatabad and Sethi Town, as well as lucrative plots in Islamabad, Police Colony, University Town and Sirbiland Pura.

NAB obtained a 12-day physical remand on the first day he was produced in the accountability court, after which he spent 41 days in the bureau’s custody to complete the investigation.

The court was further informed that the accused had given an application to the NAB chairman under its plea bargain system and offered to pay Rs43.2 million for his release, which was accepted.

After hearing the arguments of the NAB senior prosecutor, the judge ordered the release of the accused.

Section 25 of National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999 states that if any person accused of an offence under this ordinance, returns to NAB the assets or gains acquired through corruption, the chairman NAB may release the accused if the trial has not commenced, or the court may release the accused with the consent of the chairman if the trial has commenced.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2014.