The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday sought comments from the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) investigation officer on the bail plea filed by PPP leader Mir Munawar Ali Talpur against issuance of NAB’s notice on embezzlement charges.
The PPP MNA from NA-227 and brother-in-law of PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, Munawar Talpur approached the SHC to avoid his possible arrest by the country’s top anti-corruption department as it had initiated an inquiry against him over charges of corruption. After taking up the plea, the SHC division bench issued notice to the NAB’s IO directing him to make sure the submission of comments on March 30, 2016. The petitioner submitted that recently the NAB had issued him a call-up notice regarding alleged illegal allotment of land and embezzlement of millions of rupees.
Talpur submitted that the NAB was trying to implicate him in false cases but he was never involved in any corruption or misuse of authority. He submitted in the petition that he was being harassed by the NAB over corruption charges. He apprehended that he would be arrested by the investigators, therefore, he should be granted bail. Citing the NAB as respondents, Talpur prayed to the SHC to restrain it from arresting him without the court’s permission.
SHC ADJOURNS DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST WASEEM
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of Rs 500 million defamation suit filed by Sindh Rangers against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Waseem AKhter as his lawyers requested for some time.
The Rangers took MQM’s nominated mayor of Karachi to the court for leveling serious allegations against them. In Tuesday’s hearing, Akhter’s counsel requested the court to allow them some time for arguments. While accepting the request, the SHC adjourned hearing till May 17, 2016.
Rangers had filed a defamation suit of Rs 500 million against Akhter in which it stated that Akhter had accused Rangers of snatching cattle hides on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Rangers termed Akhter’s claim as baseless and false in the suit. According to Rangers, Akhter in an interview aired on a private news channel on September 29, 2015, alleged that the paramilitary force had snatched hides of sacrificial animals and was involved in extra constitutional activities. They said that accusations against them were an attempt to malign the image of the institution.