Sajawal corruption case: Three accused flee after rejection of bail by SC

KARACHI: Three accused including Ali Saleem, Imtiaz Ahmed and Bashir Ahmed have managed to flee from the Supreme Court’s premises after rejection of pre-arrest bails, ARY News reported on Monday.

The Supreme Court (SC) Karachi Registry conducted hearing of a case relating to financial irregularity in government funds in Sajawal district of Sindh.

During the hearing, NAB’s representative failed to appear in the hearing despite issuance of cause list two days ago.

The apex court rejected petitions submitted by the accused persons for their pre-arrest bails. However, the persons managed to run away from the SC building due to negligence of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials.

As the hearing went underway, the SC judge, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, remarked that development funds were collected with a lot of difficulties but it was looted with nexus of government officers.

Justice Ahmed added that the citizens were deprived of water, health, education and other facilities due to the corrupt elements.

“How can we complete development work when government officers rob everything?” he remarked.

“The contractors had themselves admitted that all contracts were fake in Sajawal,” he added.

Lawyer of the accused persons argued that his clients could have face jail if not provided bail. He added that the anti-corruption watchdog was investigating into corruption allegations against Sajawal development funds. He said that the accused persons have no involvement in the corruption and their bail should be approved.

The court remarked that it was their choice whether to go to jail or defend themselves in a relevant court.