PPP leaders demand relief under NAB Ordinance 2019

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) demanded relief under the new National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2019. Former prime minister and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf’s lawyer raised objections against indictment in Rental Power reference under NAB amended ordinance. Judge Muhammad Azam Khan heard the case. Raja Pervez Ashraf’s lawyer argued that no indictment can be filed after the new amendment in NAB ordinance. He also demanded that the former minister should be acquitted from this case. NAB prosecutor Usman Mirza opposed for not indictment, saying that no amendment has been done in the NAB Ordinance section 10B. “12 different references are pended in the court on Rental Power project,” he added. The accountability court judge directed to lawyer for submission of written document regarding its objections. He also said that the court will take stance of the NAB after filing the objections and adjourned the hearing till January23. Another PPP leader Sharjeel Memon has challenged the probe by NAB into the Roshan Sindh corruption case on basis of NAB Amendment Ordinance. The investigation into the corruption charges has been challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by the Sharjeel Memon under the newly amended laws for NAB. In his petition, Memon sought IHC to declare the probe null and void, as well as pleaded the high court to immediately stop the further proceedings in the corruption case. The petition also stated that he was not accused of taking bribery in the Roshan Sindh programme. Earlier, the IHC has extended pre-arrest bail of PPP leader Sharjeel Memon till January 7 in Roshan Sindh corruption case. The high court resumed the hearing of a plea submitted for extending the pre-arrest bail of Sharjeel Memon today in the Roshan Sindh corruption case. The IHC granted the pre-arrest bail to PPP leader Sharjeel Memon till January 1. A two-member bench comprising of Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Lubna Saleem Pervaiz hear the bail plea. The court ordered Sharjeel Memon to furnish surety bonds worth Rs 500,000. It also issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau. Sharjeel Memon, in the petition, had requested the court to grant him bail. He contended that his role was only to forward the summary to the relevant minister after receiving it. “Allegations against me are based on bad intention,” he said. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Sharjeel Memon for investigation into an inquiry into the Sindh Roshan Program.