An accountability court in Sukkur on Saturday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Syed Khursheed Shah till December 12 in a case regarding his alleged assets beyond means.
Shah's defence counsel argued with the court that 82 days have been passed since his client's arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), however the accountability watchdog could have produced any concrete evidence against his client.
"There is nothing in the case against Khursheed Shah [...] Asif Ali Zardari is under NAB's detention from the last 120 days," the defence counsel stated. Contrarily, the NAB's prosecutor told the court that for further investigation into the case against the arrested leader, permission has been sought from the chairman of the bureau. "Upon grant of permission, the court will be informed accordingly [...] 90 days are not completed since Khursheed Shah's judicial remand," he said, while pleading with the court for granting extension in Shah's judicial remand for another 15 days.
Syed Khursheed Shah currently is under treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Sukkur, where he recently underwent an angiography procedure due to cardiac problem. Shah was produced before the NAB court in an ambulance from the NICVD hospital amid tight security measures. The court extended judicial remand of the former opposition leader in National Assembly till December 12. During the today's hearing, the judge asked Shah about his health. "Shah Sahab, how is your health now", the judge asked, "I'm fine, no any issue", Syed Khursheed replied.
At last hearing of the case on November 23, an accountability court had extended judicial remand of Shah for 15 days. The PPP leader was produced before the court by the NAB officials from NICVD in an ambulance. On Sept 18, the NAB arrested senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah in a case regarding his alleged assets beyond means. "NAB Sukkur has arrested Syed Khursheed Shah in the assets beyond means case," a brief handwritten statement issued by NAB Islamabad said.