KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday restrained the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from carrying out raids on the residences of Sohail Anwar Sial, a Sindh minister.
A division bench of the SHC, headed by Justice K. K. Agha, issued orders while hearing bail petitions of the Sindh minister and others.
The bench observed that the anti-graft watchdog does not have the authority to raid houses without a search warrant.
The court extended the interim bail granted to the PPP leader as well as Zafar Siyal and Jameel Soomro until November 12 and sought a progress report on the ongoing inquiry against them.
The bench observed that NAB doesn't have powers to raid houses without a search warrant, nor can it persecute women by conducting raids without any plausible reason.
Justice K. K. Agha said NAB officials ought to be accompanied by female police officers during a house raid.
NAB prosecutor told the court that inquiry against Sohail Anwar Sial and others has been completed and sought time as according to him the value of assets is yet to be determined.
NAB's Sukkur office had raided the residence of provincial minister Sohail Anwar Siyal on charges of making assets beyond known sources of income.
The provincial minister's house was searched for four hours and important documents were seized.
Sohail Anwar Siyal is facing a case pertaining to assets beyond known means.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020