RAWALPINDI, Feb 28: Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Rawalpindi bench on Thursday directed the chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a written reply till March 18 in a contempt of court petition filed against him.

The contempt petition against Admiral (retired) Fasih Bokhari, the NAB chief, was filed by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of Punjab for giving a clean chit to property tycoon Malik Riaz and his son Ali Riaz in the 1,401 kanal land fraud case.

A division bench, comprising Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi, had on February 18 issued a show-cause notice to Admiral Bokhari to explain “as to why contempt of court proceedings shall not be initiated against him for flouting the court orders.”

On Thursday, prosecutor general NAB K.K. Agha in the presence of Admiral Bokhari requested the court to grant him more time for submission of the reply.

Mr Agha said since he was going abroad, the matter may be adjourned till the third week of March. At this, Akbar Tarrar, the deputy prosecutor general NAB, intervened and said the NAB chief was a very busy person and had to do a lot of work. He said on March 14 Admiral Bokhari has to appear before the Supreme Court in connection with another contempt of court case.

The bench advised the chairman NAB to avoid such practices which would result in the contempt of court. The NAB chief responded that the court should also understand his position. This annoyed the bench and Justice Naqvi observed that the words of Admiral Bokhari were also contemptuous and warned him to be careful while dealing with courts.

The NAB prosecutor general then requested the court to exempt Admiral Bokhari from personal appearance as he can be represented through the counsel for onward proceedings.

However, Sadaqat Ali Khan, the prosecutor general Punjab, who was representing the ACE, however, opposed the exemption.

He said in the contempt matter the NAB chief was an accused person; therefore, under the contempt law his appearance in the court at every date of hearing was mandatory.

The court then rejected the NAB request for the exemption of Admiral Bokhari and directed him to appear before the court on the next date of hearing on March 18.

It may be mentioned that the ACE, the complainant in the land fraud case, had filed the contempt of court plea against the NAB chairman. It alleged that the NAB chief violated the LHC order of September 19, 2012, which had validated an inquiry including Malik Riaz, his son and other 12 persons in the land fraud case.

It is alleged that the 1,401 kanal community land ‘shamilat’ near Rawat was transferred in the name of Malik Riaz and his son Ali Riaz on fake documents.