SHC orders NAB to complete inquiry against Agha Siraj in four weeks

KARACHI: A Sindh High Court bench has ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to wind up its investigation against Agha Siraj Durrani within four weeks, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

A bench of the high court headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh heard bail petition of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani today.

Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh asked the NAB investigation officer till when the accountability bureau will submit its investigation report, the NAB officer said they need four weeks to submit it.

The court said if the investigation is not completed in four weeks, then it will give its verdict on the available evidence that has been submitted to the court.

The petitioner’s lawyer told the court, that his client said that he is being subjected to political victimization with his arrest and the NAB has failed to produce any credible evidence against him.

The counsel pleaded to the bench to declare arrest of Agha Siraj as unlawful, the inquiry should be closed and he should be released on bail.

The court ordered the accountability bureau to wind up the inquiry within four weeks.

Durrani has filed a petition in high court seeking his bail and challenging arrest in scores of corruption inquiries against him including alleged embezzlement of public funds and illegal appointments in government departments.

The Speaker was arrested by the accountability watchdog from Islamabad in February this year.

An accountability court in a previous hearing had rejected the request of the NAB for extension in physical remand of Agha Siraj Durrani and sent him to jail till April 26.