SHC allows urgent hearing on Dr Asim’s bail plea

The Sindh High Court, on Monday, allowed holding urgent hearing of Dr Asim Hussain’s bail plea in the multibillion rupees corruption reference, filed by NAB with respect to illegally awarding contracts to private gas company during his time as petroleum minister.

The former minister, businessman Iqbal Z Ahmed and other officials including ex-managing director and acting general manager of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) were also booked by the NAB in the case; they were alleged to have awarded the contracts to a privately-managed gas processing company, Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL).

The investigators alleged that the private company was allowed to process gas from five fields in lower Sindh without conducting an open auction, signing agreements and other necessary procedures required in the law; hence, causing a loss of Rs17.338billion to the national reserves.

Dr Hussain’s counsel submitted that his client was incarcerated since August 26, 2015 but not a single charge had yet been proved in the accountability court.

He submitted that all other co-accused were granted pre or post arrest bails except him and requested the court to release him on bail. The court granting urgent hearing, adjourned the application till January 13.

 

Talpur travel plea 

The SHC also allowed hearing of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Mir Munawar Ali Talpur’s plea, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, on an urgent basis.

The PPP leader who was already on interim bail submitted in his petition that he was granted protective bail by the high court in NAB’s inquiry pertaining to illegal appointments and misappropriation of funds in salaries of teachers.

Petitioner’s counsel Farooq H Naek submitted that Munawar Talpur was suffering from diverticular disease and wanted to travel to the UK for medical treatment.

He maintained that his client wanted to travel abroad from December 12 to February 14, the permission for which may be granted.

SHC’s division bench headed by Justice Syed Mohammad Farooq Shah accepting the plea for urgent hearing adjourned the matter till December 13.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had initiated an inquiry against PPP MNA on a complaint against his alleged accumulation of assets through corruption and corrupt practices. MNA Talpur had alleged that NAB officials were still harassing him.