LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday asked a petitioner under what law a direction could be issued for shifting an under-trial prisoner from hospital to jail.

Justice Chaudhry Shehram Sarwar was hearing a petition filed by Asad Kharal, a journalist, challenging alleged faulty investigation carried out by the NAB in a land allotment case against Jang group editor-in-chief Mir Shakilur Rehman. He also sought a court’s direction for jail authorities to shift Rehman back to prison from hospital.

The petitioner is also a complainant in the NAB’s case against the media mogul.

Appearing before a two-judge bench in person, Mr Kharal pleaded that the NAB conducted an unfair investigation and benefited Mr Rehman by not implicating his family members in the land allotment case. He said the NAB intentionally did not present the record before the trial court against other family members of the suspect.

The bench expressed its doubt as the petitioner alleged that Mr Rehman had been allowed to visit Karachi despite being under judicial remand.

The bench asked the petitioner under what law the court could order the jail officials to shift an under-trial prisoner from hospital to prison if he had been admitted to the hospital for health reasons.

The bench adjourned hearing till Sept 14 for further arguments.

The NAB has already filed its reference against Mr Rehman, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and two others suspects. It accused Rehman of illegally obtaining exemption of 54 plots each measuring one-kanal situated in Block-H, Johar Town.

It alleged that the allotment of the land had been made in connivance with then chief minister Nawaz Sharif against the exemption policy and the laws for monetary gains. It said the suspects caused a loss of Rs143.53 million to the national exchequer through allotment of the land in violation of exemption policy.

The other two suspects, the officials of the LDA, were not arrested by the NAB but interrogated only.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2020