Daily Times

An accountability court on Friday further extended the judicial remand of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, who will now remain in custody until the fourth week of June in connection with a case concerning his alleged ownership of assets beyond means.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested the politician in February from Islamabad to interrogate him for allegedly accumulating movable and immovable assets beyond his known sources of income. Other allegations included making 352 illegal appointments, embezzlement of public funds during the construction of the MPA’s Hostel and the new Sindh Assembly building, as well as the appointment of project directors for these schemes.

Durrani was produced before the court amid tight security upon the expiry of his remand in judicial custody. The investigation officer informed the judge that the progress report in the case could not be submitted since the investigation was not yet complete. He requested the court for more time to file a progress report in the matter.

Granting the request, the judge allowed him to file the report until the last week of June, and extended Durrani’s custody in judicial remand. The court also issued a notice to the NAB special public prosecutor to file a reply by May 10 on an application moved by the defence counsel for Agha Siraj Durrani seeking provision of ‘better class’ facilities to him in prison.