SC seeks NAB response in Sharjeel Memon's bail plea

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a petition of former information minister Sharjeel Memon seeking his release on bail in a case pertaining to the corruption of Rs5.76 billion in the provincial information department.

The PPP leader and other accused have approached the apex court after the rejection of their bail pleas by the Sindh High Court. They have requested the Supreme Court to set aside the high court’s decision in this regard and grant them bail in the case.

A bench of the apex court issued today notice to NAB to submit comments on the petitions before next hearing and directed the court office to fix the date for the next hearing in the first week of January.

The former provincial minister has challenged his arrest at the hands of NAB on the ground that it does not have evidence enough to corroborate allegations against him and his arrest doesn’t conform to accountability laws.

On October 23, Memon was taken into custody along with other suspects from outside the Sindh High Court’s main building after the court revoked their interim bail in the corruption reference.

Sharjeel Memon, who had returned to Pakistan in March this 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.

Another case related to his alleged role in getting the state land allotted and adjusted in 43 Dehs at throwaway prices for a property developer, depriving the public exchequer of billions of rupees in revenue.