Accountability court extends remand of archeology director

PESHAWAR: An accountability court on Monday extended the remand of the Director of Archeology and Museums, KP, Dr Abdul Samad, for five days in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in a case of misuse of authority.

Granting the five days remand, the accountability court judge Naveed Ahmad Khan directed the NAB officials to produce the suspect on March 2. Dr Abdul Samad has been in the spotlight since the NAB officials produced him handcuffed in the accountability court for obtaining his physical remand at the previous hearing. However, this time the NAB officials produced him before the court without handcuffs and in a respectable way.

Senior NAB prosecutor Azimdad Khan told The News that the bureau produced some documents in the court and informed it that Dr Abdul Samad had not only made several illegal appointments but was also allegedly involved in misappropriation of antiques and sculptures which was being investigated by a team of highly qualified experts associated with the NAB.

“We demanded 14 days remand. The court awarded five days remand of the suspect,” the senior prosecutor. Dr Abdul Samad was arrested by NAB when he was asked to turn up at the bureau’s office for answering certain questions about the issue.

The bureau officials claimed that Dr Abdul Samad had appointed about 94 staffers in violation of rules.

An investigation officer of NAB requested the court to allow 14 days of physical custody as the suspect had to be interrogated for different charges against him. He alleged that the suspect had made over 90 appointments of staffers at different archaeological sites in violation of rules.

The judge directed the NAB officials to treat the suspect with respect as he was a teacher and enjoyed respect in society. Dr Abdul Samad told the court that he was innocent and had been implicated in a false case. He said that if he was proved guilty, he should be awarded severe punishment, but in case of his innocence action should be taken against the NAB officials.