Islamabad – December 3 (Online): Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani was arrested on Friday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from outside Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan.
According to details, orders of Siraj’s arrest were given during a hearing of the provincial assembly speaker’s plea seeking bail in an assets beyond means case.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was hearing the plea.
“Supreme Court cannot conduct a hearing on this plea without the high court’s verdict,” Supreme Court judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah observed during hearing.
“Why should the court offer you leniency when you didn’t surrender to the police?” he asked.
The apex court ordered Durrani to turn himself in, saying: “First comply with the SHC’s order and surrender before NAB and then [the court] will conduct a hearing on this case next week.”
Meanwhile, the SC also rejected Durrani’s request to restrict NAB officials from arresting him from the courtroom.
“We have turned ourselves in before you [apex court],” Naqvi said.
At this, Justice Bandial directed Durrani to first surrender before NAB. “We had given you concession earlier as well. There is a high court’s order against you.”
“We will not interfere in NAB’s matter,” the judge stated.
The court later adjourned the case till next week.
Minister for Information Sindh Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, addressing a press conference at the provincial assembly in Karachi, said: “We accept the court’s decision to arrest Agha Siraj Durrani.”
“The jiyalas do not fear arrests,” said Nasir, adding: “It is Durrani’s right to move courts.”
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