The Pakistan Supreme Court ordered Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani to surrender to the National Accountability Bureau on Friday (NAB). The orders were issued during a hearing on the provincial assembly speaker’s bail request in a case involving assets beyond means.
The case was being heard by a three-member bench led by Justice Umar Ata Bandial. During the hearing, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah stated that the Sindh High Court had dismissed Durrani’s bail application on the merits. He remarked, “Supreme Court cannot conduct a hearing on this plea without the high court’s verdict.”
While speaking to Durrani, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah said, “You must have been in jail if SHC had rejected your bail plea.”
Furthermore, he asked, “Why should the court offer you leniency when you didn’t surrender to the police?”
Durrani was forced by the apex court to turn himself in demanding, “First comply with the SHC’s order and surrender before NAB and then [the court] will conduct a hearing on this case next week.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Court denied Durrani’s request to prevent NAB officials from arresting him in the courtroom.
Justice Bandial ordered Durrani to first surrender to the NAB. He said, “We had given you concession earlier as well. There is a high court’s order against you.” The judge stated, “We will not interfere in NAB’s matter.”
The case was later adjourned until next week by the court. Previously, the Supreme Court overturned the SHC’s orders relating to his release on bail in the case.
The case
The anti-graft watchdog had filed a reference against the PPP leader, his family members, and others for allegedly illegally amassing assets worth Rs1.6 billion.
According to the anti-graft watchdog, Durrani was unable to account for the Rs1,610,669,528 difference between his declared income and assets from 1985 to 2018.
As per the bureau’s investigation, Durrani exaggerated the worth of 27 reported and undeclared assets, including houses and investments. The assets were appraised at Rs479.4 million by the NAB, but the PPP leader determined that they were worth Rs151.6 million.
