SC rejects Sharjeel Memon’s bail plea in graft case

• Medical reports suggest former minister is overall in good health, says NAB prosecutor 

KARACHI: Supreme Court (SC) Karachi Registry on Friday rejected Sindh’s former minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) jailed leader Sharjeel Memon’s bail plea in an anti-corruption reference filed at National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

During the hearing, the court asked the whereabouts of Memon from the prosecutor on which it was informed that he is going through treatment in a hospital from May, which has been declared as a sub-jail.

NAB prosecutor informed the court that according to the report of a private hospital, Sharjeel is not suffering from any serious disease, however, was suggested to go for physiotherapy.

The court rejected PPP leader Sharjeel Memon’s plea after hearing the arguments.

Earlier on August 28, Sharjeel Memon while talking to the media outside the NAB court had said that Nawaz Sharif registered cases against PPP leaders, but today’s PPP is different, adding that Asif Zardari cannot be blackmailed.

While criticising Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sharjeel said, “Naya Pakistan cannot be built with concrete steps.” He said PPP has served masses in past and will continue doing so.

The suspects including the former minister are accused of corruption worth Rs5.76 billion in the award of advertisements of the Sindh government’s awareness campaigns in the electronic media.

“The accused persons jointly and severally in connivance with each other have been alleged for awarding the contracts to favour certain advertising agencies and to their own favour, in violation of relevant laws and rules and against exorbitant rates,” said a press release issued by NAB.

Memon, who returned to Pakistan in March last year after ending his near two-year-long self-imposed exile, was arrested on his arrival by NAB but later obtained bail.

The others accused in the case include bureaucrats, officials of the information department and members of private advertising agencies.

The PPP stalwart claims the charges against him are politically motivated.