Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has restrained the National Accountability Bureau on Thursday from arresting former provincial minister and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sharjeel Inam Memon on his arrival in the country.

A division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto granted bail to Memon against the surety bond of Rs 2 million in a case pertaining to illegal allotment of state land and adjustment of land in 43 Dehs. It also extended his pre-arrest bail until November 14 granted in a corruption case.

The judges observed that Memon had been given almost one month’s time to surrender before the trial court; however, he had failed to turn up. “Under these circumstances, we consider it appropriate that we grant him the protective bail until November 14 subject to furnishing of solvent surety in sum of Rs 2 million,” they ruled.

The court directed him to show up before the Nazir of the court before his bail ceases to have effect and deposit his original passport.

Memon, who is living in self-exile in London, moved the court through his counsel seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with an investigation launched by the NAB into illegal allotment and adjustment of land in 43 Dehs of Malir in favour of Bahria Town.

Advocate Faiz Shah, who represented the applicant, informed the judges that the NAB had issued a call-up notice to his client on October 18, 2016, asking him to appear before it in connection with the investigation. Memon wanted to appear before the court and face the investigations but he was apprehensive about his unlawful arrest, he added. He, therefore, pleaded the judges to grant bail to Memon.

In another petition, Memon’s lawyer submitted that his client was granted interim bail by the high court on October, 10, 2016 to surrender before the trial court and face charges of corruption in the award of advertisement. But, due to his ailment and subsequent appointments with doctors he could not return to the country.

He said that Memon intended to surrender before the trial court but apprehends his arrest in the NAB reference since the bail would cease to have effect on November 07 and he is scheduled to fly back home on November 29.

He, therefore, requested the court to extend his bail in the case till December 01st so that he could turn up before the relevant court.

Memon is facing charges of corruption in awarding of advertisements at exorbitant rates, causing loss of over Rs 5 billion to the national exchequer.