SUKKUR: The Sukkur Accoun­tability Court on Monday issued warrants for the arrest of Syed Junaid Shah, one of the 18 suspects named in a reference filed against senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Khursheed Shah accusing him of having accumulated assets beyond his known sources of income.

The NAB prosecutor and defence counsel argued in the case in the presence of 17 suspects, including Syed Khursheed Shah, provincial minister Syed Awais Shah, MPA Syed Farrukh Ahmed Shah and Syed Zeerak Shah. Khursheed Shah, who has been under treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Sukkur for many weeks, was brought to the court in an ambulance.

During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor pointed out that the 18th suspect, Junaid Shah, did not comply with the notice issued to him for his personal appearance.

Accountability Court Judge Ameer Ali Mahisar took notice of it and asked from his counsel why he was not in attendance. The counsel submitted that his client was present out of the country and likely to return within a month or so. He assured the judge that he would appear in court upon his return home.

However, the judge issued warrants for his arrest and asked the police to produce him on the next date of hearing, which was fixed for Feb 18.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2020