The Accountability Court Friday extended physical remand of former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and ex-Managing Director Pakistan States Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq for another 14 days in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) case. The officials of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) produced both the accused before Duty Judge Accountability Court Shahrukh Arjumand on expiry of term of their physical remands.
At the outset of hearing, the NAB's prosecutor apprised the court of the advancement in the investigation process from the accused persons and requested for extension in their remands. The NAB prosecutor told the court that the NAB will arrest some accused relating to the case and will also obtain their remand. The investigators want to confront accused Ismail with the statements of these accused following their arrest.
While objecting to the NAB's request, defence counsel Haider Waheed said there was no justification to seek remand on the imaginative grounds. No investigation has been conducted from Ismail during the previous 11 days of remand. The judge asked the prosecution, "Do you have any other ground for seeking extension in the physical remand? I will make those grounds part of case record." While addressing the prosecution, the judge further said, "Be careful while making statement before the court."
The defence counsel said the prosecution should submit an affidavit that it would not seek another extension in the physical remand. The court asked for how many days the suspect has been on remand. The defence counsel replied the suspect has been on remand for 22 days but no investigation could be conducted from him. The court after hearing arguments of both the parties reserved its judgment for sometime. The court while announcing its reserved judgment extended the physical remand of the accused persons for 14 days and ordered NAB to produce them before it on September 12.
Comments
Comments are closed.