AC extends Shakil-ur-Rahman’s physical remand till April 28

LAHORE: An accountability court has extended the physical remand of media tycoon Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman till 28 April in the illegal property case. 

Jang/Geo Media Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman had appeared before the accountability court today after his remand had expired.

During the hearing, the special prosecutor for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had appealed the court to extend Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s remand by 15 days.

As Shakil-ur-Rahman’s counsel, Amjad Pervez, said that he had only just received a copy of the remand extension request, he required time to prepare. The court granted the defense counsel’s request and briefly adjourned the hearing till 28 April.

After the hearing resumed, the NAB prosecutor told the court that the accountability bureau had summoned different records concerning Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.

He said “There are certain Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) regarding receiving documents from the government departments.” “As we keep getting the documents, we will keep proceeding with the investigation.”

He said that they had requested more documents from concerned department. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s counsel opposed NAB’s request to extend his client’s physical remand.

He argued that international media was also following what was happening to the senior-most editor of Pakistan’s largest media group.

He further said “NAB prosecutor is wasting the court’s time. Shakil-ur-Rahman has met all NAB officers till now and the probe is now complete,” he added.

He said NAB does not need to extend his physical remand, adding that all his records have been with the investigating team from day one. After hearing the arguments from both sides, the accountability court reserved its judgment on the extension of the remand.

Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was arrested by the NAB related to illegal property cases in Lahore.According to NAB, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had illegally leased the land to Rehman in 1986.

 NAB had apprehended the media tycoon in a case pertaining to the purchase of a 54 acres land in Lahore.