KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday restrained the Anti-Corruption Department from harassing former chief minister of Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim in respect of an inquiry into alleged embezzlement during his term.

A two-judge bench was hearing his constitutional petition against the Anti-Corruption Department apprehending his arrest in the inquiry.

The bench directed the respondent provincial authorities to file their respective comments on the plea of Arbab Rahim, who had served as the provincial chief executive from 2004 to 2007, and put off the matter till April 11.

Former CM claims PPP wants to arrest him before general elections

The former chief minister’s counsel informed the judges that Arbab Rahim was currently in Lahore and he was not coming to Karachi as he apprehended his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Department.

In his petition, Arbab Rahim said that he was being politically victimised by the provincial government led by the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP).

He expressed the apprehension that he would be arrested with mala fide intention ahead of the general elections as he was going to contest the election against the ruling party.

He asked the court to restrain the Anti-Corruption Department from harassing and arresting him.

Promotion of police officer

Meanwhile, another division bench accepted an application for urgent hearing filed by Additional Inspector General Police Ghulam Qadir Thebo, seeking his promotion from BS-21 to BS-22.

The bench fixed May 10 for the next hearing and directed the respondent authorities to file their respective comments on the plea of the police officer.

Mr Thebo submitted in his petition that he was not promoted in grade 22 by high-powered selection board despite the fact that he met the criteria laid down in the Civil Servants (Promotion to the Post of Secretary, BS-22 and Equivalent) Rules, 2010.

He said that he fully deserved to be promoted as per the rules. The officer said that he had joined the police department in 1985 after passing the CSS examination.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2018