SHC issues notice to NAB over bail petition of Agha Siraj Durrani

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) while hearing bail petition of Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani, ARY News reported.

A bench of SHC ordered the NAB to submit its reply on April 24.

Durrani filed a petition in high court seeking his bail and challenging arrest in scores of corruption inquiries 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.

Agha Siraj Durrani pleaded to the court that his arrest was illegal and was done in violation of the law.

Durrani in his petition said that the NAB in a call up notice issued on February 18, summoned him to Islamabad on Feb 25. The chairman NAB issued his warrants on Feb 19 and he was arrested on Feb 20 in Islamabad, the petition said.

“The procedure of my arrest was against the law. I was arrested for political victimization,” the speaker said.

The petition further said that the accountability bureau getting his remand repeatedly but failed to justify it and neither presented any substantial evidence against him.

He pleaded to the court for his release on bail and abrogation of the NAB inquiry against him.

The Chairman NAB has also been made a respondent in the petition.

Earlier, the accountability court had extended physical remand of Durrani in a corruption case till April 12 (today).