KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday sought comments from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the federal law officer on pleas of former Sindh information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and others challenging their non-bailable arrest warrants in different corruption charges by the accountability courts.
Memon along with Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) former managing director Basharat Mirza, Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) former chief executive officer Iqbal Ahmed and the official of a private media agency Inam Akbar had petitioned the high court through senior lawyer Farooq H Naek.
The accused had challenged their arrest warrants issued in Rs 5.76billion corruption reference filed against them for allegedly causing loss to the national exchequer through embezzlement in Sindh government’s advertisement campaign on electronic media.
During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel expressed reservations over dual criteria of accountability in Punjab and Sindh and stated dissatisfaction over the issuance of non bailable arrest warrants despite cooperation by the accused individuals.
The SHC bench questioned the NAB prosecutor with regards to different criteria of the issuance of non bailable warrants, citing the case of former premier Nawaz Sharif, whereby bail was granted after the appearance of guilty party before the court.
The NAB prosecutor intervened and informed the judges that the corruption watchdog had challenged the bails given to the accused in Punjab, as well.
While putting off the matter till November 13, the court issued notices to the attorney general of Pakistan directing him to submit a reply promptly.
