CJP takes notice of shifting of Sharjeel Memon from prison to hospital

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday taken notice of former Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon’s shifting from prison to a hospital.

The ex-minister is currently on judicial remand in Rs5.76 billion graft case.

Notices to National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Director Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPGMC) and Sindh Inspector General (IG) Prisons have been sent to submit a reply to Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.

The CJP will hear the case at the top court’s registry in Karachi tomorrow (Saturday).

On Thursday, Memon along with 11 other co-accused were indicted in a graft case pertaining to corruption of Rs 5.76 billion in the Sindh Information Department.

All accused denied corruption charges against them. The judge summoned witnesses to appear before the court and record their statements.

After charges framed against the accused, the lawyer of accused Inam Akber filed objections stating that his client could not be indicted  in the case. He asked the court to hear his arguments on the matter.

The hearing later adjourned till March 03.

Memon was arrested by a NAB team on October 23 after the Sindh High Court (SHC) rejected his bail plea in a corruption case regarding the award of government advertisements at ‘exorbitant rates’ by abusing his powers as provincial minister of information.

Sharjeel Memon, who had returned to Pakistan in March last year after his two-year-long self-imposed exile, is facing several charges of misappropriation and corruption.

A reference filed against him related to the alleged award of government advertisements at exorbitant rates, causing loss of more than Rs five billion to the national exchequer.