Two NAB officials exonerated

The Supreme Court on Wednesday exonerated two senior officers of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), arrested on contempt of court charges, last week, after they tendered an unconditional apology.
A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Yousaf and Justice Syed Zawwar Hussain Jaffery ordered the release of Colonel Tariq, Monitoring Officer and Muhammad Aslam, Investigation Officer NAB. Dr Danishwar Malik, Prosecutor General NAB, Rana Asghar, Deputy Prosecutor General NAB and advocate Ibrahim Satti appeared before the court for the officers.
On July 24, the court after hearing a petition filed by Harris Steel Mills had issued a stay order with a direction for the NAB not to intimidate the petitioner with the permission to open its offices. The court had adjourned the hearing of the case till August 1. The SC had ordered arrest after the NAB officers thrashed Irfan Ali, accountant of Harris Steel Mills within the court premises.
The court had also directed the NAB chairman to start departmental proceedings against the culprits. In his submissions before the court, Prosecutor General (PG) NAB said that the detained officers wanted to tender an unconditional apology for committing contempt of court.
The court directed the PG to produce the officers before the court. While appearing before the court the officers asked for an unconditional apology saying they were unaware of the court orders. The bench in its observation said, 'they should have kept the sanctity of the court intact'.
Dr Babar Awan counsel for Harris Steel Mills said that as the officers have tendered unconditional apology, he would not contest any further in this respect. However, he informed the court that Syed Muzamil Hussain, President Press Association of the Supreme Court, the eye witness to the said incident was being harassed by some people. He said, this is an alarming situation and which is why people avoid to appear before the court as witness to deliver their 'Shahadat', which is a duty of every Muslim according to the Islamic law.
Syed Muzamil Hussain informed the court that he received calls from some private numbers who harassed him. In addition, he was chased by some people. Dr, Babar Awan requested the court to take appropriate action against the people involved in the matter. The bench directed the PG to inquire about the matter and submit the report within two days.