Corruption in Sindh Info Department: SHC reserves verdict on bail petition of accused

Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday reserved its judgment on a bail petition of four co-accused in a corruption reference related to embezzlement of public funds in Sindh Information Department. A division bench of SHC reserved the judgment on the bail plea of former Secretary Information Sindh Zaulfiqar Shahlwani, Altaf Memon, Yousaf Kaboro and Sarang Chandio. Sharjeel Inam Memon, former Sindh Information Minister, is already on bail in the same corruption case.

National Accountability Bureau's (NAB's) prosecutor opposed the bail plea of accused on the ground that it should be put on hold until Supreme Court (SC) decides the appeal of NAB against bail granted to Memon by SHC. Shuakat Hayat, the counsel for accused, opposed NAB's contention and said his clients have been languishing in jail for the last few years whereas the accountability court has yet to decide the reference against them despite holding the trial since 2016. He said that his clients are only co-accused in this case whereas Sharjeel Memon, the main accused, has been granted bail. He also argued that his clients have no connection at all in corruption of public funds.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court reserved its judgment on the bail plea of the four co-accused. Meanwhile, a division bench of SHC ordered NAB to present the evidence it obtained during the investigations against Agha Siraj Durrani, Speaker Sindh Assembly and others in a bail petition in a corruption reference. During the course of hearing, the court expressed its annoyance over investigation officer and prosecutor of NAB for not giving satisfactory replies to court's queries.

"It appears you have no knowledge about this case," court remarked while addressing prosecutor and observed that the details of assets NAB gave were submitted by the accused himself. The court asked NAB officials to inform the court about the evidence of assets of accused that the bureau obtained during the course of investigation. The court ordered NAB prosecutor to come up prepared in the next hearing of the petition before it adjourned the hearing of case till Oct 28.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019