Fake bank accounts cases: SC seeks progress report from AC about pending trial

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought progress report from the Accountability Court, Islamabad about pending trial of Hussain Lawai and Taha Raza in the fake bank accounts cases.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, heard the bail petitions of Hussain Lawai and Taha Raza against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict. The IHC on April 21 had dismissed bail petition of leading banker Hussain Lawai in the fake bank accounts case.

Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin, a member of the bench, said the apex court had directed for early disposal of the references, adding why the NAB court had not decided those cases. The NAB special prosecutor general told that the direction was issued in other case and not that one. Justice Qazi Amin said the direction was issued in that case, but the accused was different. The prosecutor general said the delay was caused due to the accused.

Upon that, the judge remarked that the accused would have to cooperate with the accountability court.

He asked the accused not to try to influence the case.

Justice Amin said since the accused stance was that they were not guilty then why they did not get themselves acquitted by cooperating with the trial court.

The NAB prosecutor informed that the accused had filed applications for transfer of cases from Islamabad to Karachi. He said though the apex court had not granted stay order, despite that they were delaying the cases.

Hamid Ali Shah advocate, representing the accused, contended that the Supreme Court had ordered the NAB to file references in two months, but it was filed after two years. He told that out of 69 NAB witnesses, he could so far cross examine only one.

Justice Qazi Amin said as now the references had been filed, so now let it be decided. He ordered that the accountability court complete the trial without adjournments.

The bench said where there was no stay order the trial should go on. The case was deferred for two weeks.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020