IHC rejects pre-arrest bail application of Khetran

Islamabad
A divisional bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Monday rejected the pre-arrest bail applications of former Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) managing director Mir Shahjehan Khetran and a co-accused Abdur Rasool Zaidi.
Khetran is facing corruption reference of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under the charges of illegal appointments of 706 people and leasing out PTDC land in Rawalpindi at low rates during his tenure.
The IHC divisional bench, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, not only rejected pre-arrest bail of Khetran but also his request to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL). The IHC bench directed NAB to expedite investigation in the case for early adjudication of the matter.
The PTDC legal counsel, Raja Saimul Haq Satti, argued before the court that the accused from April 2011 till May 2013 made illegal appointments and leased out millions of rupees worth property adjacent to Flashman's Hotel, Rawalpindi, at low rates. After the bails were dismissed, the PTDC counsel told the court that since the accused were not in the court so the court may initiate proceedings against the persons who gave sureties of the accused. At which, the court directed the counsel to file a fresh application in this regard.
The legal counsel of Khetran, Arshad Tabrez, argued before the court that the NAB initiated a fabricated case against his client based on mala fide intent. While talking to ‘The News,’ Arshad Tabrez said that his clients did not receive notices and he also came to know about this matter after a delay.