KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) expressed anger over the non-submission of investigative report against the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) land scandal by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The court further added that due to the slow pace of NAB, the accused persons get bails and enjoy their stay outside. During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor said that investigations against the accused Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, former Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) managing director Khalid Rehman, Malik Usman and a few others had been completed. For reference, the report has been forwarded to the NAB chairman, he added. The NAB prosecutor said that the NAB chairman was still quite new, therefore, it was taking more time for him to file a reference. The SHC adjourned the hearing till Jan 12, 2018. NAB is now required to, according to the SHC, submit an investigative report against the accused persons by completing the process of investigation. A hearing was conducted to consider the bail requests of Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, former SSGC MD Khalid Rehman, Malik Usman and few others in the case of buying a land for the PPL at increased market value. The case was heard by a two-member bench on Friday and was led by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh. During the proceedings, the court expressed extreme anger over continuous delays by the NAB and added that due to the slow pace of NAB, the accused persons were free and enjoying their lives outside. The court further added that if NAB has to work in this way, then it was better to close it. The NAB prosecutor requested some more time to furnish a final investigative report in the case. The accused persons had bought a land in front of the Chief Minister's House in 2010. They bought the land for the PPL for a price, which was higher than the market value. Due to this reason, the national exchequer had to bear a loss of over Rs1 billion. The court extended the bail of the accused persons and ordered that NAB should furnish a report in this case as soon as possible. The next hearing will take place on Jan 12, 2018.
