Illegal assets case: Lesco chief’s bail plea dismissed

Single bench announces verdict – which was reserved on Friday – after hearing arguments of both parties

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday rejected a bail application of former Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) chief Arshad Rafique in an illegal assets case. The single bench comprising Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan announced the verdict – which was reserved on Friday – after hearing arguments of both parties. Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered an illegal assets case against the petitioner. He said that the case was baseless as no evidence was found against the petitioner. He contended that the alleged land mentioned by the agency was inherited by the petitioner. The counsel pleaded the court to grant benefit of bail to the petitioner. However, FIA’s counsel submitted that Arshad Rafique had amassed assets beyond his income and he was found guilty during investigations. He pleaded the court to dismiss the bail application.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2014.