PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader retired Captain Mohammad Safdar for an ongoing inquiry of the National Accountability Bureau about his assets.

A bench consisting of Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Mohammad Nasir Mehfooz adjourned hearing into Mr Safdar’s petition for the purpose after his lawyers said another bench had heard lengthy arguments during the last hearing, so the same should hear the case.

Lawyers Abdul Lateef Afridi, Barrister Mudassir Amir and Manzoor Khalil appeared for the petitioner, while the NAB was represented by senior prosecutor Mohammad Ali, deputy prosecutor general Azeemdad and senior lawyer Haider Ali.

Barrister Mudassir told the bench that currently, four petitions of Mr Safdar, who is also the son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, were pending with the high court.

PML-N leader moved court against NAB probe about his assets

He said his client had filed the current petition to seek pre-arrest bail after the issuance of arrest warrants by the NAB chairman over an ongoing inquiry regarding his assets.

The lawyer said another petition was filed by the NAB against the hiring of senior counsel Sattar Khan for the petition.

He, however, said the petition had become infructuous over Sattar Khan’s refusal to show up on behalf of the NAB.

The lawyer said in one of the other petitions, Mr Safdar sought pre-arrest bail in a sedition case registered against him on Feb 9 by the SHO of the East Cantonment police station on the basis of a media talk made by his client on the high court’s premises.

He added that an interim bail was granted to his client in that case and Apr 5 was fixed for the next hearing.

Barrister Mudassir said the fourth petition was filed seeking the court’s direction for the provincial police officer to reveal the number of criminal cases, including that of sedition, registered against Mr Safdar in the province.

He said during the previous hearing, a bench headed by Justice Lal Jan Khattak had to adjourn hearing after lengthy arguments as the NAB lawyers wanted to produce certain documents.

The lawyer said the bench had allowed the NAB to submit documents and also permitted the petitioner to submit reply to them.

Lateef Afridi contended that in order to victimise his client, the NAB had been launching inquiries one after another.

He pointed out that when the interim bail was granted to Mr Safdar, the NAB began almost identical inquiry in Lahore against him.

NAB deputy prosecutor general Azeemdad contended that both Peshawar and Lahore inquiries were of different nature.

He said he had also brought a relevant patwari to the court who would testify that the suspect was involved in tampering with the revenue documents.

Justice Musarrat Hilali wondered how he could produce a patwari when the court hadn’t summoned any official.

He also asked if the documents were tampered with, why the culpable officials weren’t arrested.

The prosecutor said an inquiry was in progress on the matter.

He said producing the patwari was meant that the facts should be brought to the notice of this court.

The prosecutor said in the order sheet of the previous hearing, nothing was mentioned that the case would be heard by the same bench.

Barrister Mudassir said although the previous bench had not mentioned it in the order sheet, it had not adjourned hearing after arguments and had not assigned any next date giving the reason that as it was not clear when the same bench would be again constituted.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2021