Daily Times

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected suspect Shahid Shafiq’s petition filed against National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Ashiana Housing scandal.

The court stated the petition was unsubstantiated, directing the suspect’s counsel to consult the accountability court first. The appeal bench announced their verdict against Shahid Shafiq’s petition that challenged the rules of NAB.

The petitioner had challenged NAB’s charges that initiated investigation into the matter, stating that the sections/rulings under which the accused was being charged no longer existed.

Shahid Shafiq’s counsel objected his client’s arrest, informing the court that as the rulings were no longer applicable, his client could not be arrested.

The defense counsel stated that NAB had stepped out of its jurisdiction and authority and made the arrest. In response, the prosecutor stated that the accused had been arrested after investigation and fulfilling the legal requirements.

Prosecutor Rana Arif informed the court that Shafiq had been given to NAB under physical remand, thus the appeal hearing was illegal.

The case proceedings headed by Justice Baqir Ali Najfi with a two-member bench had previously reserved its verdict on the petition.