LAHORE, March 11: The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed bail petition of former National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi, the main accused in the company’s land scam.

The accused through his counsel pleaded that he had no role in the scam but the Federal Investigation Agency had dragged him into the case with mala fide intention.

However, an FIA official informed the court that the accused was involved in fraud of 803-kanal land of the NICL and this allegation had been proved during investigation.

Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik after hearing both sides rejected the bail petition of Niazi. The FIA also accused him of paying huge claim amounts to contractors in connivance with his colleagues in violation of rules. It alleged that Niazi and others paid huge money to contractors after getting claims through fake surveyors.

Meanwhile, Justice Malik allowed bail to another accused of the scam, Ayub Siddique Butt, and directed him to submit bail bonds of Rs1 million.

PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi also submitted his bail bonds of Rs100 million before the LHC registrar judicial. The court had granted him bail on Thursday.

Opinion

Editorial

Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

IT appears that, despite years of wrangling over the issue, the country’s top legal minds remain unable to decide...
Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....