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Karachi Court Adjourns Decision on NAB Reference, Hearing Delayed Until January 7
Karachi court postpones decision on petition to send reference back to NAB Chairman. Farooq H. Naik argues case is out of court's jurisdiction, while Aamir Naqvi plans acquittal arguments if rejected.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-06
Karachi Court Adjourns Decision on NAB Reference, Hearing Delayed Until January 7

The Sindh High Court has adjourned the decision on a petition seeking to send a corruption reference back to the Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The court postponed the hearing until January 7, 2024, after hearing arguments from both sides regarding the legality of the reference filed against Agha Siraj Durrani and his family members.

Farooq H. Naik, representing the accused, argued that the reference filed by NAB against Agha Siraj Durrani and his family members was illegal. Naik stated that under the recent changes in the law, this reference no longer falls within the jurisdiction of the Sindh High Court. He called for the case to be sent back to NAB Chairman for reconsideration, as the legal framework had been altered since the filing of the reference.

Naik emphasized that NAB had wrongly included the family members of Agha Siraj Durrani as accused in the case. He further questioned the legitimacy of the accusations, alleging that they were politically motivated.

On the other hand, Advocate Aamir Naqvi, representing the prosecution, stated that if the court rejected the petition to send the reference back to NAB, they would move forward with presenting arguments in the acquittal petition. Naqvi made it clear that they were ready to defend their position and prove the legitimacy of the charges against Durrani and his family.

The case, which involves allegations of corruption and illegal assets against Agha Siraj Durrani, the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, has been a subject of political controversy. Durrani was arrested earlier by NAB on charges of owning assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. His family members were also named as part of the reference, leading to further criticism from opposition parties.

The decision on whether the reference should be sent back to the NAB Chairman or proceed under the court’s jurisdiction will have significant implications on the future course of the case. Both sides are expected to present further legal arguments in the coming hearings.

The court's adjournment until January 7 gives both parties time to prepare their arguments, and the outcome of the case is likely to impact the political landscape, especially given Durrani's prominent position within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Tagged:

NAB

Karachi

SindhHighCourt

CorruptionCase

AghaSirajDurrani
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