CDA official booked by NAB in bribery case applies for post-arrest bail

Islamabad

A Capital Development Authority (CDA) official, Iftikhar Haidri, who was booked by NAB authorities for allegedly receiving Rs4 million bribe from a mall owner of Islamabad has applied for his post-arrest bail from Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Justice Aamir Farooq of the IHC, while hearing in this matter, issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and the investigation officer, Ehsan Qadir, seeking their replies.

It was on November 30, 2015, when NAB officials had raided a restaurant where allegedly CDA Deputy Director Iftikhar Haidri was allegedly receiving bribe against some illegitimate favours that were to be extended to the mall owner, Rana Abdul Qayyum.

The petitioner, through his counsel Babar Awan,  contended before the IHC that the mall owner used him to achieve his illegitimate objectives and later he in connivance with authorities got him arrested.

The legal counsel of the petitioner argued before the court that NAB arrested his counsel in a false and frivolous case. The investigation authorities have no evidence that the accused had any interest in issuing clearance certificate to the owner of the mall, he further argued.

The mall owner, Rana Qayyum, was a defaulter of CDA for the outstanding payment of more than Rs40.5 million up to 2013 for Plot No. 5 located in Markaz F-7. Advocate Babar Awan further argued that the NAB authorities do not have powers to conduct a raid on any place and the case was also not registered through a proper investigation agency like police or FIA.

The legal counsel of the accused told the court that the mall owner has been involved in criminal activities and he caused a loss of more than Rs376 million to the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) in connivance with EOBI employees. He was then arrested on the intervention of Supreme Court of Pakistan which took a suo moto notice in the EOBI scam.

Haidri’s counsel further said that his client was booked in a false case. He is a heart patient and suffering from diabetes as well.

Advocate Awan prayed to the court to release his counsel on bail as investigation has been completed and his custody is no more required.

The court, after issuing notices, put off the matter with date to be fixed by the registrar's office.