ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal on Saturday took notice of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Archaeology and Museums Director Dr Abdul Samad’s arrest, hours after Prime Minister Imran Khan termed the action a “disgraceful act”.
According to a notification issued by NAB, Justice (r) Iqbal has ordered for presenting Dr Abdul Samad along with the relevant record in his office on Monday.
“The KP director of archaeology and museums should be presented along with his record and details of allegations against him,” the NAB chairman added.
“NAB values Dr Abdul Samad’s services to the nation and will ensure that his respect is maintained. Justice will be done in accordance with the law and Constitution,” he further added.
Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had termed the KP archaeology and museums director’s arrest a “disgraceful act”, urging the NAB chief to “take action” against people who are behind the incident.
The NAB Chairman should take action against those in his institution who are responsible for this disgraceful act. pic.twitter.com/kjJvZWrN3o
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 15, 2019
Dr Samad had been arrested by NAB on Thursday when he was asked to turn up at the bureau’s office for answering certain questions in a case pertaining to alleged misuse of authority.
According to the anti-graft watchdog, Dr Samad had appointed over 90 ‘Class IV’ employees at different archaeological sites in violation of prescribed rules.
On Thursday, NAB produced Dr Samad before an accountability court in Peshawar and secured 10-day physical remand “in order to hold an interrogation” regarding different charges against the archaeologist.
Dr Samad, who is perhaps the youngest person to be appointed as archaeology director during the last decade, maintained his innocence before the court and said that he had been implicated in a false case.
He said that if he was proven guilty, he should be awarded double sentence by the court, but in case of his innocence, action should be taken against the concerned officials of NAB.
Dr Samad’s lawyer said that his client was asked through a phone call to appear at NAB’s office and was arrested there without a warrant. He also told that the court that the accused holds a PhD in Archaeology from Germany and is also a Fulbright alumnus. He had also been awarded a Tamgha-i-Imtiaz by the federal government for his services.
