ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday expressed displeasure over the carelessness of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and summoned its director investigation.

A division bench, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, was hearing a petition filed by an accused in the fake accounts case.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari is also an accused in the case and was on a pre-arrest interim bail.

The case is related to the award of a contract by the government of Sindh’s Special Initiative Department to Harish and Company and others.

As per the NAB record, during the course of investigation it was revealed that in June/July 2015 an amount of Rs7.45 million from illegal proceeds had been credited into the account of Abdul Nadeem Bhutto, the in-charge of Naudero House, Larkana, from the fake account.

Director investigation summoned after official fails to satisfy court hearing a plea filed by accused in fake account case

The payments were used to pay off expenses of Naudero House, it claimed.

Before the court, the counsel for the company said his client had in writing requested NAB for a plea bargain but the bureau’s authorities were deliberately keeping the request pending.

When Justice Farooq inquired from the prosecution, the latter said NAB had conveyed its decision to the accused verbally.

“Why you did not reply the accused in writing. It appears that NAB is only for picking up people,” remarked the judge.

“Where is the investigation officer?” the court asked.

The investigation officer appeared before the court and said he was in constant contact with the accused.

“Then why you did not reply him in writing?” When the investigation officer said he had documented the communication with the accused, the court directed him to produce the daily diary that contained the detail of the investigation.

The officer said he did not bring the record of the case.

“What you have brought with you. Why you are here without any record,” remarked Justice Kayani.

The bench also said why the investigation officer should not be served with a show-cause notice.

Justice Farooq then asked who was the director general supervising the investigation.

The officer replied that Director Investigation Ghulam Farooq was looking after the case.

Subsequently, the bench ordered: “The investigation officer was unable to satisfy the court. Ghulam Farooq Ahmed, Director Investigation, is directed to appear before the court on the next date of hearing.”

Further hearing was adjourned to June 13.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2019