The Accountability Court hearing multibillion rupees fake bank accounts case on Thursday ordered release of a co-accused Sajjad Abbasi after he filed an application to become an approver. The officials of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) produced former executive director Karachi Land Department Sajjad Abbasi before Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir on expiry of his remand term. The accused filed application seeking to become an approver.
The court directed NAB to remove the name of Abbasi from the co-accused list. On this, the NAB prosecutor told the court that the name of Abbasi has been removed from the co-accused list. The NAB officials also filed an application seeking orders to release accused Abbasi as the bureau did not need him further. The judge observed that it should be written in the application that Abbasi is no more a co-accused and he has now become an approver. The court reserved its judgement regarding release of co-accused Abbasi.
Later, the court while announcing its judgement said the NAB prosecutor filed an application seeking the release of Abbasi as he is no more accused and is now a prosecution witness. His statement has already been recorded by the magistrate in compliance with the section 26 of NAO 1999, while chairman NAB has granted pardon to him within the meaning of section 26 of NAO and other enabling provision of NAO, 1999.
The judgement says that in view of the facts that he is no more accused in the case, instead of it, he is a prosecution witness, the request of the NAB is accepted. He should be released if he is not required in any other case. The accused was allegedly involved in illegal allotment of land designated for public and social welfare.