Daily Times

Karachi: Sindh High Court on Tuesday directed Sindh Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar to provide complete documents to National Accountability Bureau and record his statement with the top anti-graft body in an inquiry being conducted against him (minister) on corruption and misuse of powers and authority.

A division bench of SHC headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh heard a bail petition of Sindh Law Minister Lanjar in a NAB inquiry. During the course of hearing, NAB prosecutor told the court that the Lanjar had recorded statement with NAB.

He added that an inquiry against the minister was going on the charges of making assets beyond known source of income, corruption and misuse of powers.

He added that progress had been made in the ongoing inquiry against the minister. He further said that after 2008, a sudden and unusual increase in assets of Lanjar was noted. The prosecutor said that NAB had sought details of income during the minister’s days of practice a lawyer.

Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh remarked that as per NAB, Lanjar had not provided the Bureau complete documents. Counsel of the petitioner Farooq H. Naek replied that they did not know what NAB require from his client. The CJ remarked said “You are a senior lawyer and you know well what your client is required to provide to NAB.”

Naek pleaded the court to adjourn hearing of the case for long time as he was proceeding to US. The court while directing the minister to provide all the required documents to NAB within a week, asked him to also record his statement before the NAB inquiry team.

The court while extending the interim bail granted to the minister adjourned further hearing till October 11, 2017. During last hearing the bench had directed Sindh Law Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar to record statement with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in ongoing investigation against him on corruption charges.

When a NAB prosecutor told the court that Lanjar was not cooperating with the Bureau in investigation, the court reprimanded him and directed him to join the investigation. The Chief Justice had reminded the minister that he was on interim bail and on non-cooperation his bail could be cancelled. “Securing bail does not mean that one should not cooperate in investigation,” the CJ SHC had remarked.

Justice KK Agha warned Lanjar if he did not record his statement his interim bail would be revoked. The court directed Lanjar to record statement with NAB.

Lanjar, who belongs to the PPP, had obtained interim pre-arrest bail on May 29 anticipating arrest by the NAB in connection with corruption charges inquiry against him.

Published in Daily Times, September 6^th 2017.