Agha Siraj Durrani sent to jail till April 26

KARACHI (92 News) – A Karachi accountability court sent Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani to jail on judicial remand till April 26 on Friday. During the hearing, the accountability judge expressed displeasure with the investigation officer for not obeying the court order. The NAB prosecutor said the bureau had changed the investigation officer in the case. Durrani’s lawyer opposed the remand and said NAB hasn’t issued a call-up notice. The court then asked the prosecutor where the notice is. “We remanded Durrani into your custody so you could investigate him,” the court said. The NAB said that it was unable to complete its investigation, which is why it was asking for a longer remand. However, the court remanded Durrani to jail instead. On March 11, the AC granted the NAB an extension in Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani’s physical remand till March 21. During a hearing, the accountability court directed NAB to present a progress report at the next hearing. Agha Siraj Durrani stated that the anti-graft watchdog considered the courts as fun. Meanwhile, the NAB prosecutor asked for an extension in Durrani’s physical remand, arguing that they had only two days to interrogate him. He also said that the Sindh Assembly speaker has been going to the assembly for sessions after breakfast every day. NAB also informed the court that they have found out the details of Durrani’s assets worth Rs27 million. He also has a house in Karachi’s Defence that is worth Rs40 million and 10 luxury watches were found in his bank locker, the prosecutor said. One watch cost millions of rupees and there was foreign currency and gold there as well. However, Durrani’s lawyer said that they still haven’t been told the reason for his arrest yet. The lawyer also said that even if a suicide bomber is arrested, he has rights.

Foreign currency, gold found in lockers of Agha Siraj Durrani

92 News obtained the details of various foreign currencies and gold found during a search of Agha Siraj Durrani and his family’s lockers. According to the sources, the foreign currency included Saudi Riyals, pounds and dollars were found in the Durrani family’s lockers at a bank located in Defence’s Khayaban-e-Shamsheer. The sources said that the foreign currency worth equal to five million five hundred eighteen thousand and seven hundred forty-four rupees which were found in the lockers. It was also reported that the gold items such as chains, rings, watches, bangles, bars, necklaces, medals and buttons were also found during the search. “Two kilo 14 grams gold items were found from one locker as well as one kilo 9 grams gold items were found from another locker.” The sources quoted the worth of gold items, which found from Durrani’s and his family lockers, more than two billion rupees. It also said that the NAB tightened the grip around 25 officers which considered as close aide of the Sindh Assembly speaker. On February 20, NAB had arrested Agha Siraj Durrani for investigation into assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and funds embezzlement charges. Afterwards, accountability court had sent Durrani on a three-day transit remand.