KARACHI: An accountability court extended physical remand of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau till March 11 in a corruption case.
During hearing of case on 1.3.2019, the administrative judge of accountability courts directed the anti-graft watchdog to file a progress report at the next hearing. According to NAB, Durrani is being interrogated for alleged embezzlement of funds, illegal appointments and holding assets beyond recognizable income.
The extension of remand was heavily argued in the courtroom as the defence counsel for Durrani opposed it, contending that his client was being coerced into signing confession as NAB had no evidence to support its allegations.
The NAB investigation officer told the court that Durrani was required to be questioned on several benami properties. He said that the properties had allegedly been purchased in the names of the suspect’s family members and alleged front men.
He added that Durrani’s alleged front man, Gulzar Ahmed, was holding around Rs860 million in his bank accounts and he had gone underground to prevent arrest. He said that the suspect was also not cooperating with the investigators as he would go to assembly every day.
The IO said that NAB was also summoning people in whose names the pay orders and cheques had been made to purchase those properties. He added that Durrani’s brother had also been served a notice to appear for the inquiry.
The defence counsel argued that NAB had made a case of assets beyond income and had been provided with the required documents, including money trails; therefore, it could no longer keep the suspect in its custody. He added that NAB was playing tactics to pressurise his client.
Durrani told the court that he was cooperating with with the bureau. In response to the argument of going to the assembly, he said he was innocent until proven guilty and so could attend sessions of the assembly.
