Durrani’s physical remand extended till April 12

An accountability court on Saturday extended the physical remand of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, who has been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for two more weeks.

Durrani, a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, faces three inquires over allegedly making assets beyond recognisable income, making illegal appointments at government projects and institutions, and embezzlement of public funds.

At the outset of the hearing, a NAB prosecutor moved an application seeking extension in the physical remand of Durrani. The prosecutor maintained that though the investigations had progressed, they had yet not been concluded and more questioning was required.

He pointed out that in connection with inquiries against the Sindh Assembly speaker, the investigators had traced some individuals who had made suspicious payments and NAB had issued them notices. The prosecutor added that those persons, however, had obtained protective bail from the superior courts and were avoiding being interrogated.

Arguing for the extension of Durrani’s remand, the prosecutor said that would probably be the last extension and if NAB could not establish the offence during the course of investigations, it may let the suspect go without any further prosecution.

It was argued that the remand was necessary because some people had been found with bank accounts in their names containing exorbitant funds that did not match with their means of income. The prosecutor said those people needed to be cross-examined along with Durrani.

The Sindh Assembly speaker’s lawyer opposed the remand plea, saying that NAB had not done homework before taking his client into custody, which was against the rules that the bureau needed to follow. He added that even the Supreme

Court had issued clear directives that no one should be arrested unless there is sufficient evidence.

Durrani’s lawyer went on to say that it seemed NAB only wanted to malign his client on the basis of mere allegations. He added that his client’s residence was raided and his family harassed.

The federal anti-graft watchdog should stay within its limits as due to its behaviour, people were committing suicides, the lawyer said. He alleged that NAB had also been releasing on social media fake videos of recoveries from his client’s house, to which the investigation officer said neither had they released any video nor they had any control over social media.

The accountability courts’ administrative judge approved the NAB plea and extended Durrani’s remand till April 12. The judge also sought a progress report on the next hearing. This was the fifth extension in the physical remand of the incumbent Sindh Assembly speaker, who was arrested by NAB on February 20 from a hotel in Islamabad and later brought to Karachi.