Dr Abdul Samad sent to prison on judicial remand

PESHAWAR: An accountability court on Monday sent Director Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr Abdul Samad to the Peshawar Central Prison on judicial remand.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutors produced him before the accountability court headed by Naveed Ahmad Khan and requested for further remand of 14 days.

The NAB prosecutors, including Azeemdad Khan and Riaz requested the court that the bureau required the accused for further investigation about his bank accounts and also in the recent report submitted by a committee of archaeologists.

The NAB is following the case and believes it has evidence to show that the accused was involved in misappropriation of expensive antiques and sculptures and had appointed employees without following the set criteria. However, the counsel for the suspect submitted that Dr Abdul Samad had spent 600 hours in the NAB custody and the bureau did not produce something new, which could become the basis for seeking further custody of the official. The counsel requested the court to send the suspect to central prison on judicial remand and not in the NAB custody. Dr Abdul Samad was arrested on February 15 for his alleged involvement in the misuse of authority.