Ex-CM Sindh Qaim Ali Shah summoned by NAB today

RAWALPINDI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned former chief minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah today (Wednesday) in connection with investigation related to Thatta Sugar Mill and Dadu Sugar Mill.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader was served call-up notices to turn up at NAB headquarters in Rawalpindi at 3:00am today along with relevant record of the sugar mills. Upon failure to show up, he was warned of legal action.

According to the bureau, the former chief minister allegedly sold Dadu Sugar Mill at throwaway prices, causing a huge loss to the government exchequer and benefiting Naudero Sugar Mill in the process.

Earlier, on March 26, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had granted a 10-day pre-arrest bail to Shah in a case related to Thatta Sugar Mill.

A divisional bench, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani, approved the interim bail of the former chief minister against surety bonds worth Rs1 million and directed him to join the investigation.

His counsel stated before the court that NAB had served called-up notices to his client for March 27 for probe related to Thatta Sugar Mill and Dadu Sugar Mill. He pleaded with the court to prevent the bureau from arresting Shah on his appearance before the probe team.

He said NAB had no evidence to substantiate charges against the former chief minister.