A file photo of the Peshawar High Court. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court issued an order to the Ehtesab Commission, asking it to submit a written explanation for arresting Sajid Jadoon, currently posted as secretary for industry. He was taken into custody on corruption charges.
The notice was issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Irshad Qaiser during the hearing of Jadoon’s petition.
Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, counsel for Jadoon, told the court his client was a member of a committee tasked to amend the KPEC act. He said currently Jadoon is a BPS-20 officer and serving as president of the Provincial Civil Services Association.
Jadoon’s side
Malik told the court his client has proposed some amendments to the legislation. In his summary, the counsel maintained the Ehtesab Commission as a whole does not have much authority, but its director general has ample powers. These include the power to issue an arrest warrant for a suspect or approve his or her release. “My client also proposed power should be devolved to the commission from the DG, including filing of reference in court and postponing arrest on the basis of weak evidence. My client insisted in his proposed amendments that the powers of DG be curtailed,” Malik said.
The counsel for secretary industries contended that when the EC DG came to know about the proposed amendments, an arrest warrant was issued for his client. Jadoon was arrested in a case which even does not exist.
Malik requested the court to release his client on bail and declare the arrest as null and void.
After hearing Jadoon’s case, the court asked the commission to submit a written explanation detailing reasons behind Jadoon’s arrest.
Previously on Ehtesab Commission
The commission arrested Sajid Jadoon last Wednesday, accusing him of illegally purchasing weapons, wireless sets and bullet-proof jackets. He was also accused of selling vehicles confiscated by the excise and taxation department without following proper rules and regulations. This resulted in loss worth millions of rupees to the exchequer, the commission stated
“He is also involved in the illegal retention of confiscated vehicles in the excise and taxation department. He also gave away those vehicles to people illegally,”
read a statement.
More from Ehtesab Commission
The court also adjourned hearing of two cases of former minister for mines and mineral development Ziaullah Afridi until late on Wednesday (today). The former minister is seeking bail in two cases where the commission booked him on charges of mining illegally in Charsadda and Abbottabad.
During the court proceedings, Mudasir Ameer, Ziaullah’s counsel, told the court his client was arrested on July 9 in a case in Nowshera. When the 45 days of his physical custody came to an end, his client was booked in another two cases.
Deputy Prosecutor General Zahid Aman informed the court Ziaullah’s brother filed the petition, which is legally incorrect. However, Ziaullah’s lawyers said that petition is against illegal confinement, which can be filed by anyone from the family of the accused.
The court then adjourned the hearing of the two petitions and directed the commission to present the amendments in the KPEC act made by the provincial assembly.
On August 24, a division bench of Justice Musarat Hilali and Justice Muhammad Younis Thaheem granted bail to Ziaullah in one case. However, the very next day, an Ehtesab Court ordered for the accused to be sent to Central Prison Peshawar in two other cases related to illegal mining scams.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2015.
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