KARACHI: Former Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday challenged his detention in an accountability court in Karachi in Rs 5.75 billion corruption case.
Memon was presented before the court along with other suspects in a corruption case pertaining to the award of advertisements at exorbitant rates through the abuse of his power.
In a petition submitted by the PPP leader, he adopted stance that his arrest warrants were not issued on October 23, therefore; the detention should be declared illegal and unlawful confinement.
During the hearing, NAB submitted evidence in the court against Sharjeel Memon that was comprised of thousands of pages and dozens of volumes.
Memon’s lawyer accused the NAB of telling lies as they arrested his client inside Sindh High Court. Sharjeel’s counsel further argued before the court that the place of his client’s arrest has been wrongly quoted: It is mentioned as ‘Shahrah-e-Iraq’ on Musheernama though the arrest was made within the limits of the Sindh High Court.
Sharjeel’s counsels plead the court to declare his arrest and detention illegal. They moved a separate application over it.
Accusing NAB of misstating facts to the Court Sharjeel’s lawyer asked the Court to take action. He also accused NAB of misstating the order of the Sindh High Court.
Opposing Sharjeel’s plea the NAB prosecutor told the Court that non-bailable warrants were issued in this case and they were temporarily suspended after the Sindh High Court granted interim bail. However, after the expiry of the bail the warrants were restored after which Sharjeel and 10 other suspects were arrested.
NAB prosecutor responded that no violation was made as arrest warrants of the suspect were issued.
The defense lawyer requested the court to provide B-class to his client in the jail. The judge remarked that the matter will be considered after examining the space in B-class.
Other suspects in the case including former Sindh information secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shalwani also appeared before the court.
The counsels of the suspects said that their clients who are government officers of Grade 19 were grabbed and pulled. As per NAB’s statement the arrest of the other suspects is allegal, they said adding that NAB mislead the Court over arrest of Sharjeel and other suspects because Sharjeel Memon was arrested from outside the Passport Office and the Court could confirm this from the Investigation Officer.
On this the Judge of the Accountability Court asked, “ leave this question, why are you make it hard for the Investigation Officer.”
The suspects counsels also plead the Court to Grant their clients B Class in the jail. Every suspect demands for B Class, just how many people could we grant B Class to, the Judge said. The NAB itself has written that a minister has this right, the counsels added.
