NAB gets Siraj Durrani’s remand till March 1

KARACHI: The administrative judge of accountability court on Thursday remanded Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) till March 1 in an inquiry concerning accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

Durrani, a leader of Pakistan People's Party, was arrested by the anti-graft watchdog on Wednesday in Islamabad after his warrants were issued by the NAB Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal.

The NAB told the court that Durrani, in his current capacity as the speaker and formerly as Sindh minister for local bodies, committed offences of corruption and corrupt practices as defined in Section 9(a)(v) of the National Accountability Ordinance.

According to NAB, the total income declared by the suspect from 1985 till June 2018 was Rs84,426,978 whereas the declared properties and other assets in his name as well as in his family members’ were worth Rs269,004,026. “[Durrani] has assets disproportionate to his known sources of income which attracts offence of corruption and corrupt practices.”

It added that he reportedly accumulated assets or pecuniary resources at his native place, Garhi Yasin, which were yet to be verified.

“[He] is to be interrogated in respect of the offence committed and to be confronted with the evidence collected.”

The NAB investigation officer, Deputy Director Asif Raza, had sought 15-day physical remand of the suspect from the court. However, the judge only granted him a week since the defence lawyer, Shahab Sarki, vehemently argued against the detention of his client.

Durrani was brought to the court amid tight security as leaders and activists of PPP, including former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani, Rashid Rabbani, Waqar Mehdi and Samir Mir Sheikh, gathered there in a bid to express solidarity with their party fellow.

Sarki argued that his client was ailing and NAB officials didn’t provide him medicines. He added that the anti-graft watchdog also raided Durrani’s residence in the DHA and misbehaved with the family members.

The judge instead asked the lawyer to file a written complaint with the court for necessary action. Speaking about the arrest while talking to the media at the court, Ghani opined that the law in the country was different for the PPP than for the Centre-ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

He said when the PPP pointed this out, it was alleged to have used the Sindh Card. He added that cases were being concocted against the PPP leadership for ulterior political motives. Shehla Raza alleged that the NAB officials harassed the family of Durrani in an hours-long raid at his residence.

She said it was unfortunate that the women of the family were kept under unlawful detention and warned that if families were troubled again, then the party would resort to widespread protests.