The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approached an accountability court seeking withdrawal of a Rs1.61 billion assets reference against late Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and others.
In May 2019, the national graft buster had filed a reference against Durrani, his spouse, children, brother and others for possessing assets worth around Rs1.6 billion allegedly made through illegal means.
NAB, through its chairman Lt General (retd) Nazir Ahmed, filed an application in the accountability court-IV requesting to withdraw the case after the death of the PPP leader. The court is expected to take up the NAB plea on next hearing slated for April 1.
The application stated that the reference was filed before the court against Durrani for allegedly accumulating assets and pecuniary resources beyond his known sources of income through illegal means in active connivance with co-accused persons, including his family members, servants and front-men, who allegedly acted as benamidars.
It said that as per the contents of the reference, Durrani, after becoming the local government minister in 2008 and later Sindh Assembly speaker, “accumulated assets and pecuniary resources amounting to approximately Rs1,610,669,528 beyond known sources of income.”
It submitted that during the pendency of the reference, the principal accused, Durrani, expired and the proceedings against him stood abated in accordance with law, adding that another accused Zulfiqar Ali Dahar had also died.
“According to the contents of the Reference, the allegations against the remaining accused persons primarily revolve around holding of benami properties on behalf of principal accused and their role can be termed as of abetment,” read the application. “The abettor in absence of principal accused cannot be convicted, hence, the proceeding against them has become infructuous.”
The NAB chairman said that he consulted with the accountability prosecutor general in terms of the Section 313-B of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, who agreed with the legal position and recommended withdrawal of the reference.
“Keeping in view the totality of facts, circumstances and evidence available on record, I, being the competent authority under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, have decided to withdraw the instant Reference while exercising the powers conferred upon me under the law,” the chairman said.
“In light of prevailing circumstances it would not be just and proper to continue with the trial of the said accused persons.” The high court, therefore, was requested to allow the withdrawal of the reference in accordance with law as “continuation of the trial would serve no useful purpose and would merely result in unnecessary wastage of the valuable time of this court.”
