An accountability court on Saturday extended the physical remand of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, who has been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for two more weeks.Durrani, a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, faces three inquires over allegedly making assets beyond recognisable income, making illegal appointments at government projects and institutions, and embezzlement of public funds.At the outset of the hearing, a NAB prosecutor moved an application seeking extension in the physical remand of Durrani. The prosecutor maintained that though the investigations had progressed, they had yet not been concluded and more questioning was required.He pointed out that in connection with inquiries against the Sindh Assembly speaker, the investigators had traced some individuals who had made suspicious payments and NAB had issued them notices. The prosecutor added that those persons, however, had obtained protective bail from the superior courts and were avoiding being interrogated.Arguing for the extension of Durrani’s remand, the prosecutor said that would probably be the last extension and if NAB could not establish the offence during the course of investigations, it may let the suspect go without any further prosecution.It was argued that the remand was necessary because some people had been found with bank accounts in their names containing exorbitant funds that did not match with their means of income. The prosecutor said those people needed to be cross-examined along with Durrani.The Sindh Assembly speaker’s lawyer opposed the remand plea, saying that NAB had not done homework before taking his client into custody, which was against the rules that the bureau needed to follow. He added that even the SupremeCourt had issued clear directives that no one should be arrested unless there is sufficient evidence.Durrani’s lawyer went on to say that it seemed NAB only wanted to malign his client on the basis of mere allegations. He added that his client’s residence was raided and his family harassed.The federal anti-graft watchdog should stay within its limits as due to its behaviour, people were committing suicides, the lawyer said. He alleged that NAB had also been releasing on social media fake videos of recoveries from his client’s house, to which the investigation officer said neither had they released any video nor they had any control over social media.The accountability courts’ administrative judge approved the NAB plea and extended Durrani’s remand till April 12. The judge also sought a progress report on the next hearing. This was the fifth extension in the physical remand of the incumbent Sindh Assembly speaker, who was arrested by NAB on February 20 from a hotel in Islamabad and later brought to Karachi.
from The News International - Karachi https://ift.tt/2HQZ1QZ
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Durrani’s physical remand extended till April 12
Related Posts:
CITY PULSE: The Skin We Live InThe Canvas Gallery is hosting Ahmed Ali Manganhar, Amna Rahman, Anusha Ramchand and Yaseen Khan’s art exhibition titled 'The Skin We Live In' until September 12. Call 021-35861523 for more information.and those who were seen.… Read More
ZUEB marks International Literacy DayTo mark International Literacy Day, which is observed on September 8, the Ziauddin University Examination Board (ZUEB) on Sunday held a seminar at the Aziz-e-Millat High School in Orangi Town.A large number of students and te… Read More
Strategy being made to ‘improve human rights situation in Sindh’The Sindh human rights department is chalking out a comprehensive strategy to improve the situation of human rights in the province and a formal announcement in this regard will be made very soon.Veerji Kolhi, the special ass… Read More
Two held by FIA for blackmailing, extorting money from womanTwo men were arrested on Thursday by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for uploading the images of a woman on pornographic websites and extorting money from her through blackmail.The arrests were made by the cybercrime w… Read More
Showing gratitude to one’s mentor through ‘Altered Reality’The ArtChowk Gallery is hosting Ambreen Hameed’s solo art exhibition titled ‘Altered Reality’ until September 10. This new body of work highlights a sense of reinventing the self and serendipity, the gallery’s statement quote… Read More
0 comments:
Post a Comment