Justice Khosa says accused fall ill after arrest

Ag Sabah

KARACHI: Supreme Court’s Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, hearing Sharjeel Memon’s bail application, on Friday raised questions over the former provincial minister claims of deteriorating health, and asked why everyone arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) falls ill.

Justice Khosa, in his remarks, added that the NAB should build a hospital, as it recovers millions of rupees from the accused.

The PPP leader had filed an application in SC for bail, saying the National Accountability Bureau did not have any evidence against him.

He also appealed to the court to constitute a medical board for providing him with services which was accepted by the National Accountability Bureau. Memon requested the apex court to set aside the Sindh High Court’s decision for his arrest, saying the apex court has already issued an interim bail to another accused Inaam Akbar in the case.

Referring to media reports that an entire hospital floor was allegedly booked for Sharjeel, Justice Khosa said some people were exploiting the law that allowed prisoners with health problems to be transferred to hospital.

“It has become a regular practice. Medical boards grant favours to people accused of crimes,” he remarked. Sharjeel had said he was suffering from health problems that could not be treated at the jail facility, a claim that had been rejected by National Accountability Bureau’s prosecutor.

Complying with Sharjeel’s request, National Accountability Bureau had ordered on December 13 that a medical board, comprising a neurologist and neuro physician among other specialists, should be formed to determine whether the PPP leader could be treated in jail.

During Friday’s hearing, his lawyer told the court that his client was shifted to a hospital after the jail administration had informed the Sindh government that he could not be treated in jail.

Justice Khosa responded by pointing out that Sharjeel was arrested after the Sindh High Court rejected his interim bail application. In his remarks, Justice Khosa said courts were careful on medical reports nowadays.

Later, the court issued a notice to federal government demanding an answer over whether Sharjeel should be granted bail in the case, adjourning the hearing until the first week of January 2018.