The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it had arrested Ghulam Rasool Baloch, former Consul General in Houston, USA, for issuance of a Pakistani passport to an Indian national.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja was hearing an appeal of Assistant Consul General Muhammad Naeem, who is in custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for last 17 months.
Naeem was booked in connection with issuance of a fake Pakistani passport to an Indian national, Aziz Moosa. The Pakistani passport bears his name as Sayyed Ali. Dr Asghar Rana, prosecutor of NAB, submitted a report before the bench regarding arrest of the former consul general.
Earlier, on Thursday, NAB's Prosecutor General, Dr Danishwar Malik had told the court that arrest warrants of Ghulam Rasool, former Consul General in Huston, USA, had been issued and he would soon be arrested. Meanwhile, the court directed Provincial Police Officer (PPO), Balochistan to produce Abdul Qahir before the court on September 28. The 70 years old businessman was abducted from the province.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued this direction while hearing a suo motu case. Javed Shah Bokhari, IG Police Balochistan and Akbar Raisani, DCO Pishin appeared before the court and informed about the steps taken by the officials for recovery of the abducted person. The court was told that a special team has been established which comprises two DIGPs.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed displeasure over the statement and observed that incidents of kidnapping have been increasing with every passing day in Balochistan. However, the court adjourned the hearing for September 28, on request of the IGP.