KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the National Accountability Bureau to complete the investigation into illegal appointments in the Sindh police and withholding of funds meant for the investigation wing of the police and their disbursement for other purposes within two months and file the compliance report in court.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Mian Saqib Nisar, Amir Hani Muslim and Khilji Arif Hussain was hearing an application against withholding of funds meant for the investigation wing and their disbursement for other purposes.

The National Accountability Bureau submitted an interim report regarding its investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the bench on the recommendation of Advocate General of Sindh Nisar Durrani appointed DIG Sanaullah Abbasi as head of the investigation committee constituted to investigate the allegations against senior police officials into illegal appointments in police after Advocate Asma Jahangir appearing for former provincial police chief Ghulam Hyder Jamali objected to the composition of the committee.

She stated that her client did not have any objection to the investigation being conducted by the NAB, but the present provincial police chief, IGP A. D. Khawaja, was part of the investigation committee. She was of the view that police officers should not conduct an inquiry against their colleagues.

The counsel said that there was an impression that the NAB was proceeding with the matter on the basis of the report of the inquiry committee composed of police officers.

She said that the investigation by the NAB on different subjects was in pursuant to the orders by the apex court. However, the judges rejected her submission and observed in their order that this was not the correct position, adding “rather NAB has commenced the inquiries/investigation independent of any order of this court and we are sanguine that such inquiries/ investigation shall continue to be conducted independently and monthly periodical reports shall be submitted”.

The bench further observed that the NAB investigators would be free to benefit themselves with the material collected by the inquiry committee to conclude the proposed investigation.

Meanwhile, an application of behalf of IGP Khawaja was also moved, informing the court that the IGP had dissociated himself from the committee.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2016