Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday approved the bail plea of three accused, charged with causing Rs 220 million losses to national exchequer in Benazir Housing Scheme. Three accused - Manzar Abbas, Abdul Mohiddin and Agha Ishrat filed the bail application before the court. Court reserved the judgment in the last hearing on April 12. Court directed to release the accused on bail and furnishing surety bonds of Rs 50 million each in the court.
Three accused were in the jail since 2015 after NAB conducted inquiry against them in the corruption scam pertaining of Benazir Housing Scheme. NAB prosecutor pleaded in the court the Project Director Manzar Abbas along with the co-accused caused Rs 220 million to national exchequer. NAB contended that accused didn't allot the houses to the people, who have deposited required amount.
NAB prosecutor informed the court that bureau recorded the statements of people affected by surveying five districts of Sindh and against 1400 houses, only five hundred were built.
In another case SHC sought the detail arguments from petitioner and respondent in amendment in Sindh Local Government Act 2015 that allows citizens with dual nationalities to contest the local government bodies' elections in the province.
Advocate Zulfiqar Ali Domki had challenged the amendment in Section 36 (1)(c) of the Act, which omitted the conditions relating to the qualification of a candidate to contest the local government elections.
The amendment was clear violation of the judgment given by the Supreme Court in the case pertaining to dual nationality for members of parliament.
Court directed both parties to present the arguments in this case in the light of Supreme Court's verdict and observed that how is it possible that what constitution restricts couldn't be applied on the local bodies' elections.
Additional Advocate General Sindh argued that elected representatives of local governments have no business with the legislation as it falls in the domain people elected to national & provincial assemblies. Justice Aqeel Abassi said it is beyond comprehension why the act was amended to remove this bar for local bodies' representatives. Court put off the hearing for May 23 seeking detailed arguments from both sides in this case.
Bangladeshi citizens Case SHC on Friday sought the replies from DG FIA, Sindh Home Department and Deputy Attorney General on Bangladeshi families want to return their country when it resumed the hearing on the case.
Court sought the replies from the respondents on May 22 when applicant informed the court that Bangladeshi families consisting of more than thirty people want to return their country and accused FIA of creating hurdles in their way. Applicant prayed the court to direct FIA to clear the legal documents for their return to Bangladesh.