January 14, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 13, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 13: The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notice to deputy prosecutor general of National Accountability Bureau for Jan 18 on petition of senior vice-president of Pakistan International Airlines seeking injunction against initiation of inquiry against him regarding Cathay Pacific aircrafts deal.

Mohammad Rashid Hasan, serving as Senior Vice-President (Corporate Planning) of the national flag carrier, submitted that he was being questioned by NAB investigation officers regarding deal of Cathay Pacific aircrafts for PIA despite the fact that he had nothing to do with the deal which was finalized in March 1999 prior to his appointment as director in Corporate Planning.

He said that NAB authorities took his statement under duress and kept questioning him to disclose what favour was given to a businessman Happy Minwala, who deposited money in his foreign bank account. He submitted that Minwala had deposited money in order to avoid giving his share to his ex-wife after divorce. But, he said, the NAB accused him of receiving such money as bribe on so-called statement of Minwala.

The petitioner further submitted that NAB investigation officers seized his passport and he was denied to travel abroad after placing his name in the Exit Control List.

The court was prayed to restrain respondents from initiating inquiry and taking any coercive action against the petitioner on basis of so-called statement of Minwala and direct them to return his passport by deleting his name from the ECL.

After preliminary hearing of the petition, SHC division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery issued notice to NAB’s deputy prosecutor general for Jan 18.

Meanwhile, SHC’s single bench comprising Justice Arif Hussain issued notice to SHO Nazimabad for not submitting compliance report regarding the attachment of trailer in Rs6.85 million lawsuit for recovery of damages.

Rana Asad Shahzad, Toba Shahzad and Rana Hamza filed suit against trailer driver Sher Zaman Khan and its owner, holding them responsible for killing plaintiff’s father Rana Shahzad Ahmed in an accident on Oct 8, 2003 at Ibne Sina Road, Nazimabad.

The court on previous hearing ordered SHO Nazimabad to attach the trailer and submitted the compliance report.

Taking notice of non-compliance of court order, the single bench issued notice to SHO Nazimabad for Jan 20, 2006.

In another petition, the Sindh High Court issued notice to Sindh Advocate General and jail authorities.

The petitioner, Mah Bibi, submitted that her son Mohammad Anwar, who was arrested by police on June 29, 2002 in three cases, were either acquitted or released on bail by the court of law in September 2004 but the jail authorities were not releasing him despite court orders.

She said that the jail authorities instead of releasing her son were malafidely keeping him in prison on basis of false entries. She prayed the court to direct respondents to release her son.

Sindh High Court’s division bench comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Zia Pervaiz after hearing the preliminary hearing issued notice to AG and jail authorities and sought their comments.—PPI