KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday lashed out at Investigation Officer (IO) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for not completing inquiry against the school headmaster who has already undergone two-year prison.
SHC Judge Umar Sial expressed displeasure while hearing the pre-arrest bail plea filed by Abdul Hafeez, a school headmaster in Sheikhupura. Justice Sial remarked that two years have been past and the inquiry is not yet completed.
The petitioner Abdul Hafeez told the court that an anti-corruption inquiry was already in progress against him. “I was imprisoned for two years, but the inquiry was not completed,’’ he stated. “Now NAB is conducting the inquiry and sending notices to me,” he added.
The judge asked the NAB official that “why are you inquiring if the anti-corruption investigation is underway”. To this, the official told the court that “the accused is a headmaster and has made assets beyond means worth Rs56 million”. The officer pleaded that anti-corruption inquiry should also be handed over to anti-graft watchdog.
“No need [to hand over the inquiry to NAB]. Complete your inquiry in two weeks,” the court remarked. The judge said that “you [NAB] have sent call up notices to honourable citizens [without any prior investigations]”.
The judge asked the NAB IO to confirm in writing that he would complete the inquiry within two weeks.
