LHC restrains NAB from coercive steps against Mian Mansha

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday restrained the National Accountability Bureau from taking coercive measures against business tycoon Mian Muhammad Mansha in a case pertaining to money laundering. However, the court at the same time asked Mr Mansha to join the NAB inquiry.

The anti-graft watchdog had served notices on Mr Mansha to appear before the NAB in person to record his statement. The NAB was probing the source of transfer of funds to England to buy a hotel. Purportedly, Mr Mansha had bought a multi-billion dollar Saint James Hotel and Club in 2010 in London.

Advocate Salman Aslam Butt appeared before the court on behalf of Mr Mansha and contended that his client had nothing to do with the London property as he was neither the owner nor the shareholder in the property. He pointed that the London property was owned by Mr Mansha’s family members and all legal formalities were fulfilled before its purchase, including payment of taxes.

The counsel also questioned the jurisdiction of the NAB to initiate investigation against the petitioner under Section 19 of its ordinance. He stated that the subject of money laundering did not fall within the domain of the NAB.

The counsel asked the court to set aside the notices being issued by the NAB to the petitioner and also the inquiry proceedings against him for being unlawful. A NAB legal adviser argued that the petition was premature as the inquiry against the petitioner was on initial stage. The petitioner’s counsel pointed out that the NAB had been making arrests during the stage of inquiry.

The bureau’s counsel said the petitioner could secure bail before arrest from the court if he had apprehensions of his arrest. However, the bench headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan directed the petitioner to join the inquiry and also restrained the NAB from taking any coercive action against him. The bench also directed the NAB to file a written reply by March 25.