Rs 5.77b corruption: Sharjeel Memon, others sent to jail

KARACHI (92 News) – The accountability court has on Tuesday sent former Sindh information minister and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Memon and others to jail until November 4. The former Sindh information minister was produced before the accountability court (AC) today (Tuesday) in the Rs 5.77 billion corruption reference amid tight security. During the proceedings, the counsels for Sharjeel Memon approached the court for his bail on surety bonds. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor prayed the court to sent the accused to jail on judicial remand. The court ordered to send the PPP leader to jail on judicial remand. The court also issued notices to NAB on two applications filed by Memon, seeking B class and medical facilities in jail. The court further adjourned the hearing until November 4. Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested PPP leader Sharjeel Memon after the Sindh High Court cancelled his bail in the Rs 5.77 billion corruption reference. His 11 accomplices had also been arrested. After the bail cancellation, he tried to evade the arrest by restricting himself to the Bar Room for five hours. The NAB officials waited for him outside the Bar Room. Meanwhile, PPP leaders Imdad Pitafi, Jam Khan Shoro, Makesh Chawala and Fayyaz Butt reached the Bar Room. On the other hand, Sharjeel Memon moved an application to the chief justice, pleading that his arrest should be stayed until filing of an appeal in the Supreme Court. However, his application could not be heard because the court time was over. The PPP workers and the NAB officials scuffled with each other over the issue. However, the Rangers controlled the situation. After his arrest, he was shifted to NAB Headquarters. On the other hand, PPP chairman Bilwal Bhutto Zardari had said that the arrest of Sharjeel Memon is a proof of the hypocrisy of the National Accountability Bureau. Reacting to the arrest of Sharjeel Memon in a tweet, he said that there are two laws in the country – one for the Sharifs and another for Sharjeel Memon.