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Assets beyond income: Hearing against Khursheed adjourned till Feb 18

Assets beyond income: Hearing against Khursheed adjourned till Feb 18
February 3, 2020
SUKKUR (92 News) – An accountability court (AC) in Sukkur on Monday adjourned hearing of income beyond known source of income against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah till February 18. During the hearing, the PPP leader was presented before court. The hearing of the accountability court Sukkur bench was adjourned for February 18 and the court directed to present all accused in the case including the PPP leader on the day. Khursheed Shah was brought to the court on an ambulance from National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Sukkur, where he is currently being treated for various illness during NAB custody. Speaking to the journalists after the court appearance, Khursheed Shah lamented the incumbent leaders for an unprecedented hike in the prices of commodities and asked as to who is working from behind to increase rates of basic food items. He said that the authorities were creating hurdles in replacing an Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Sindh province but replaced around four within the same period in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. “Why there are two laws for two separate areas of the country?” he asked. To a question about his release on bail, Shah said that he believes that justice would be served in his case. Earlier, AC in Sukkur has given permission to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe against Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah. Khursheed Shah has been presented before court in assets beyond income case. During the hearing, the NAB has filed a plea to launch corruption inquiry against the accused. The court remarked that the NAB can ask answers of questionnaire based on 10 queries sent to Khursheed Shah. Earlier, the NAB Rawalpindi sought answers of a questionnaire based on 10 queries regarding Oversees Ministry, which handed over to Khursheed Shah’s. It is to be mentioned here that Joint Investigation Team (JIT), headed by NAB DG in Multan Attiqur Rehman, has been formed on the orders of NAB chairman to probe into Khursheed Shah’s case. PPP leader along with 17 others are named in a reference pertaining to corruption of over Rs1 billion. On Sept 18, 2019 the NAB arrested senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah in a case regarding his alleged assets beyond means. “NAB Sukkur arrested Syed Khursheed Shah in the assets beyond means case,” a brief handwritten statement issued by NAB Islamabad said. Multiple corruption cases against Shah are under investigation with NAB. In 2012, an accountability court had directed NAB to file a reference against him on a complaint pertaining to alleged accumulation of illegitimate assets. In 2013, NAB had reopened two corruption cases against Shah under the directives of the Lahore High Court. In July, 2019, NAB Chairman retired justice Javed Iqbal had approved nine inquiries against different personalities, including Shah.