SHC issues notices to NAB, others on Sharjeel’s bail plea

KARACHI: Sindh High Court on Monday issued notices to deputy prosecutor general National Accountability Bureau and others on a bail petition filed by former information minster Sharjeel Memon.

Sharjeel had moved a fresh petition for bail in Rs.5.76 billion NAB corruption reference after rejection of the protective pre-arrest bail from the SHC and the Supreme Court. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the petitioner was falsely implicated in NAB corruption reference. He submitted that the former information minister did not give approval for the advertisements and the inquiry was initiated after he travelled abroad for medical reasons.

He submitted that the TV channels had different rates for air time of advertisements and the petitioner could not be charged for giving advertisements on exorbitant rates to advertising companies.

He submitted that all the payments were made in accordance with the Sindh Public Procurement Rules and other relevant laws. He submitted that the federal and Punjab governments were issuing advertisements to the media but no inquiry was initiated against them by the NAB. He requested the court to grant bail to the petitioner who requires treatment for his ailment. The court after preliminary hearing of the petition issued notices to the deputy prosecutor general NAB and others and called their comments on January 10.

Besides Memon 17 others including former secretary, officers of the information department as well as representatives of the advertising agencies are among the accused cited in the reference. It was alleged that the advertising agencies suppressed the media invoices and showed inflated amounts.

Rauf Siddiqui plea for release of passport: The Sindh High Court issued notices to prosecutor general Sindh, provincial law officer and others on an application filed by Muttahida Quami Movement leader Rauf Siddiqui for release of his passport.

PPP's Dr. Asim Hussain along with Pak Sarzameen Party leader Anis Qaimkhani, Muttahida Quami Movement leader Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, Pasban leader Usman Moazam along with Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar and PPP's Qadir Patel are accused in the case.

The FIR alleges that the former federal petroleum minister Dr. Asim Hussain, a close aide of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, had provided medical treatment to terrorists of MQM and Lyari gangs and gave them shelter in his private hospital.

Rauf ’s counsel Shaukat Hayat submitted that his client was granted bail by the SHC on November 1, 2016 subject to surrendering his passport and restricted his travelling abroad without permission of the trial court. He submitted that the main accuse of the case Dr. Asim was allowed by the Supreme Court to travel abroad, and requested the court to direct the Nazir of the court to return the passport to the applicant. The court after preliminary hearing issued notices to the prosecutor general and others and set the next hearing on January 15.