SHC seeks NAB’s comments on Anwar Zai’s bail application

Karachi

The Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the deputy prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and others on the bail petition of Anwar Ahmed Zai, the chairperson of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK).

The matric board chief had moved the court against his arrest in a NAB reference pertaining to illegal appointments in the Mirpurkhas board during his tenure as chairman from 2004 to 2007.  NAB officials alleged that Zai had appointed seven persons on grade 16 and above without any advertisement of the posts.

Seeking post-arrest bail for the matric board chief, his counsel denied the allegation and submitted that all the appointments were made on a merit basis, following the rules and the procedure.

The court issued notice to the NAB and others and called comments on September 9.

 BSEK Chairman Anwar Ahmed Zai was arrested by NAB a day earlier on charges of corruption, illegal appointments and out-of-turn promotions.

He was alleged to have committed the crimes during his time as chairman Board of Intermediate Education Karachi and in-charge of examination boards in Mirpurkhas.

According to a NAB official, Zai would also be investigated for result tempering during his time at different boards and centres.

Zai served as deputy director and district education officer Mirpurkhas, in 1990 he was appointed director education Karachi. He then went on to serve as additional secretary education, Sindh, additional secretary development finance and planning, and additional secretary academics.

Also a playwright, Zai has not less than 100 full-length dramas and plays to his credit, besides also having penned seven books.

 

Ex-IGP’s travel plea

The Sindh High Court granted permission to former Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, who is facing corruption inquiries before the NAB in an illegal appointment case, to visit Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

The court, however, directed the former IG to submit surety bonds worth Rs1 million with the Nazir of the court.