Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court was informed on Tuesday that an inquiry against former MPA and Pakistan People’s Party leader Ghulam Qadir Palijo for allegedly accumulating assets beyond known sources of income and illegal encroachment of lands was underway.

A division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto was hearing the petition filed by Ghulam Qadir Palijo, father of PPP senator Sassui Palijo against NAB for initiating inquiry against him.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s investigation officer appeared before the bench and filed his comments, alleging that the petitioner, who had remained MPA from 1993 to 1997, acquired properties and assets through corrupt practices in his and other family member’s name.

He stated that the inquiry against Palijo had been initiated and it would be concluded within the stipulated period.

Palijo had petitioned to the high court requesting it to declare the inquiry initiated against him as illegal and unconstitutional.

His lawyer contended that the NAB had no material to substantiate its allegations against his client. The inquiry is being used as a tool to harass him, he added.

He informed the judges that the NAB authorities had asked the petitioner to submit the details of his assets, income and expenditure. Besides, he said, they were contacting all and sundry having any sort of relationship with the petitioner to elicit information about the petitioner, which was aimed at defaming the former MPA.

He argued that the inquiry was mollified and without lawful authority and added that the petitioner’s fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 13 of the Constitution are being violated.