In view of the threat Covid-19 poses to lives, a divisional bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, on Thursday ordered the release of 24 suspects facing various corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The IHC had earlier granted bail, amid coronavirus fears, to 408 prisoners being held at Adiala Jail for minor offences. But no such luck for Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, Editor-in-Chief of the Jang media group, who was arrested by NAB on March 12 allegedly for illegal acquisition of land more than three decades ago. On Wednesday, an accountability court extended his physical remand for another 15 days on the request of NAB prosecutor who claimed that further custody of Mir Sahib was required because the investigators needed to record the statements of some officials.
Keeping Mir Shakil in custody for more time makes no sense. First of all, he has been cooperating with the investigators, appearing before them whenever required. Second, he is in no position to influence the statements of officials purportedly related to his case. Third, having deep personal and business roots in this country he is not going to disappear. Hence for NAB to want to keep him imprisoned for as long as it can, lends credence to suspicions that he is being punished for the editorial line of his group rather than something he is alleged to have done 34 years ago. As a matter of fact, the government does not make secret of its annoyance with Geo and Jang's coverage. In any event, NAB should free him without further delay. It needs to give due consideration to the compelling remarks Justice Minallah made while announcing his decision to free two dozen people involved in serious corruption cases, including the fake bank accounts case and the Karkey references.
Although under the NAB law the onus of proving innocence lies on the shoulders of the accused, the court reminded the NAB prosecutor that under-trial suspects are considered innocent until conclusion of the legal process. This becomes all the more important under the present circumstances. As the court aptly observed, the maximum punishment for financial corruption crimes is 14 years, but the suspects are at an immediate risk of losing their lives to coronavirus. Fairness demands that the owner of the Jang media house is treated at least like so many others facing more serious charges, and allowed to go home and contest the case at the relevant legal forum.