Bail plea of Dr Asim’s ‘accomplice’: SHC directs Rangers to file comments

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The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday once again directed Rangers to file comments on the petition filed by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Deputy Managing Director Shoaib Warsi seeking bail after arrest.

The SHC bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, was hearing the petition filed by Warsi, who is currently in NAB’s custody over his alleged involvement in embezzlement and misuse of powers as an SSGC official.

In Friday’s hearing, NAB’s counsel sought some time for filing the comments whereas no comments have been filed on the behalf of another respondent, Sindh Rangers. The court issued notices to Rangers directing them to file the comments in this regard on January 4, 2016.

Earlier, Warsi submitted that he was picked up by the paramilitary force on August 26, 2015 and remained in their custody for a period of three months. After the expiry of his 90-day preventive detention, he was handed over to NAB.

The petitioner submitted that he was not involved in any criminal activity and all the allegations leveled against him were baseless. He contended that since he is innocent, his arrest is in violation of articles 3, 4, 9, 10 and 14 of the country’s constitution.

Warsi submitted in the petition that he had been falsely implicated in facilitating the then petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain in embezzlement in SSGC but that he had nothing to with corruption.

Citing NAB and Sindh Rangers as respondents, the petitioner prayed to the court to grant him bail after arrest and to declare his arrest illegal.

Shoaib Warsi was arrested by Rangers, which detained him by informing the Anti-Terrorism Court that they had credible information about his involvement in offences falling within the ambit of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. After the expiry of his 90-day preventive detention, he was handed over to the NAB.