PHC dismisses bail petition of KP ex-secretary

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has again dismissed bail petition of the former secretary of Workers Welfare Board (WWB), Tariq Awan, who was arrested on charges of awarding scholarships to undeserving students and misappropriating funds during the procurement of equipment.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Irshad Qaiser and Justice Qalandar Ali Khan dismissed the bail petition. The former secretary had again filed bail petition on fresh grounds, claiming that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had failed to bring solid proofs against him in the case and thus he should be released on bail.
Counsel for Tariq Awan submitted before the bench that the NAB had arrested his client for corruption, but has yet to produce solid proofs even in one year. He alleged that NAB’s claims of several complaints against his client were false and not a single one had been registered. The lawyer said that the prosecution witness had not shown any proof of embezzlement in his statements.
However, the NAB KP Additional Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Jamil Saraf and senior prosecutor Umar Farooq submitted before the bench that there are enough proofs against the former secretary in the case and he deprived hundreds of students of their scholarships while also causing loss of millions of rupees to the exchequer. They opposed release of the former secretary on bail.
On April 20, the NAB KP had arrested Tariq Awan for his alleged involvement in illegal appointments, selling scholarships and the gross violation of rules in the acquisition of land for welfare projects for labourers. The bureau authorised various enquiries, which led to the arrest of Tariq Awan.