Weapons scam: NAB’s response sought in Amir Ghazan Hoti’s bail plea

Hoti’s counsel claims the investigation body did not provide sufficient proof against his client .


Our Correspondent July 25, 2014

PESHAWAR:


The National Accountability Bureau was directed by the Peshawar High Court to submit its report on a bail application filed by Amir Ghazan Hoti, who is one of the men accused in a Rs7 billion weapons procurement scam.


During a hearing on Thursday, Qazi Jawad Ihsanullah, counsel for Hoti, informed the two-member bench that his client had been wrongfully implicated as he had nothing to do with the embezzlement.

According to Ihsanullah, Hoti was neither a government employee nor a political figure when the said scam took place.  He said Hoti had no role in the purchase of weapons and NAB had not produced sufficient evidence against him, therefore, he should be released on bail after providing surety bonds.

The court directed NAB to file a report in response.

Ghazan Hoti, the brother of former chief minister Amir Haider Hoti, was arrested for allegedly being involved in the purchase of substandard weapons for the police department during 2008 and 2009.

On May 7, an accountability court sent Hoti to Central Prison Peshawar after his physical remand expired. He was arrested by NAB on April 15 after the PHC dismissed a request for an extension in pre-arrest bail.

Hoti is accused of taking Rs195 million in kickbacks from the weapons contractor Arshad Majeed, but he denies all charges, saying that he has no role in the purchase of weapons.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2014.

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