Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday issued notices to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for August 21, 2019 over approval of reference against Agha Siraj Durrani, Speaker Sindh Assembly.
Siraj Durrani challenged the approval of reference against him in trial court in SHC, which directed to issue noices to NAB over it. A division bench of the SHC inquired from the counsel for Durrani about challenging the reference in high court rather than in accountability court, which is holding the trial against Speaker provincial assembly.
Durrani is on a judicial remand for misusing the powers as provincial minister for Local Government and "assets beyond means" case. As many as twenty accused including Siraj Durrani have been charged in NAB reference.
SHC bench questioned about challenign the reference, at which counsel for Durrani told the court that NAB didn't issue call-up notice before the approval of reference against his client.
Counsel contended issuance of call-up notice is a legal requirement in NAB references, which was not complied with in the case of his client.
Counsel argued that Speaker provincial assembly didn't misuse his powers while he was Minister Local Government Sindh and also didn't anything alike during his stint as speaker assembly.
Meanwhile, a division bench of SHC also issued notice to NAB in Rs 5.75 billion corruption scam in Information Department Sindh in Zaulfiqar Shalwani case, who is co-accused along with Sharjeel Memon, former Sindh minister and others in the reference.
Bench issued notices to NAB for August 07 after counsel of Shalwani told the court that high court approved the bail of Sharjeel Memon in this case and his client also deserves to be granted bail. An accountability court is hearing the corruption reference against the accused.
Counsel informed that court that case took a new turn as the federal government released the advertisements to media organisations on the rates, higher than the rates of his client, on whose basis a reference of corruption was filed against him.