SHC orders to release Agha Siraj in assets beyond means case
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday accepted bail of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in assets beyond means of income case.
The court has issued a robkar (mandamuses) to the jail and directed to release the suspect.
The SHC was hearing bail petitions of different suspects including Agha Siraj. It has directed them to submit their passports and surety bonds worth one million rupees each.
Also Read: Arrest warrants issued for Siraj Durrani’s wife, son, four daughters, others
The high court has ordered to place names of the suspects on the Exit Control List (ECL). References against the Sindh Assembly speaker and other suspects are prejudice before an accountability court in Karachi. Siraj’s wife, four daughters and two sons have been declared absconders in the case.
Durrani was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on February 20 the following year from Islamabad. The accountability watchdog is investigating into the suspect’s assets, hundreds of alleged unlawful appointments made by him and alleged embezzlement in national exchequer.
On Oct 12, an accountability court in Karachi had issued non-bailable warrants for 13 suspects, including members of Durrani’s family, in a case pertaining to assets beyond means.
The Pakistan Peoples Party leader and others — including his wife Naheed Durrani, his son Agha Shahbaz Durrani and four daughters — are suspected of illegally accumulating assets worth more than 1.6 billion rupees.
Upon being asked, the investigation officer had told the court that notices had been served to the absconders. The accountability court had on this occasion directed to block their national identity cards and issue their arrest warrants.
Moreover, the IO had been ordered to present a report in the case after taking action against the absconders.
Since, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has come into power, high-profile arrests have taken place which include arrests of former president Asif Zardari, deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and ex-finance minister Miftah Ismail among others.
