KARACHI: The National Accountability Court (NAB) has reopened a graft case of Rs5.75 billion against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Inam Memon.
The development comes after a decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which nullified the NAB Amendments Act and restored all corruption cases against political leaders.
The former Sindh minister along with other accused in the case reached an accountability court to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.
The court said the after Supreme Court’s verdict, the ambit of the court cannot be challenged and the trial of the case will resume from where it was left.
The accountability court summoned witnesses and the accused in the case on the next hearing and adjourned further proceedings until October 5.
PPP leader Sharjeel Memon and 16 others have been charged with misappropriating advertisement funds of the information department worth Rs5.75 billion.
NAB had filed a reference against them in 2016 over involvement in alleged irregularities in awarding contracts to different newspapers and channels for running advertisements.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan struck down amendments made to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws as it announced its reserved verdict on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman’s plea.
In a majority 2-1 verdict, the top court approved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s petition challenging amendments made to the country’s accountability laws during the tenure of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government.
Memon is also facing a reference for allegedly possessing assets beyond his known means of income filed by NAB. Duirng a hearing on July 20, the court observed that the Supreme Court had directed to complete the trial within six months.
Sharjeel Memon and others appeared in court in the reference filed by the NAB for possessing assets beyond known sources of income. The court adjourned the hearing due to the non-appearance of one of the accused, with the directive that all the accused should appear on the next date of hearing.
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