KARACHI: An accountability court restrained on Friday the executive director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) from leaving the country without seeking prior permission from the court.

Dr Nadeem Qamar, the NICVC executive director, along with others has been facing a National Accountability Bureau inquiry related to alleged corruption and maladministration. He is currently on pre-arrest bail.

On Friday, Accountability Court-I Judge Abdul Ghani Soomro took up the bail matter when Dr Qamar’s counsel moved an application pleading the court to allow his client to travel abroad.

Advocate GM Bhutto, who appeared on behalf of suspended officer Dr Tariq Sheikh, also moved an application pleading to accept his affidavit to assist the prosecution in the bail matter.

He pointed out that Dr Qamar, who is facing inquiries, had purportedly obtained a no-objection certificate from the Sindh chief secretary to travel to London for three weeks.

He submitted that Dr Qamar intended to travel from May 27, but he had not intimated NAB authorities about his travel plan.

The lawyer said he wanted to assist the prosecution in this matter and pleaded to accept his affidavit to represent Dr Sheikh.

Without passing any order on Dr Qamar’s plea for permission, the judge restrained him from leaving the country without seeking prior permission from the court.

He also issued a notice to the NAB authorities, directing them to file a reply to Dr Qamar’s application for permission to travel abroad.

In the meanwhile, the judge declined Advocate Bhutto’s request to accept his affidavit to assist the prosecution in the bail matter.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2022