Court restrains NAB from arresting Usman Buzdar in assets case

LAHORE: An accountability court on Saturday barred National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in assets beyond means case.

The PTI leader had approached court seeking interim bail in assets beyond case launched against him by the anti-graft watchdog. The court ordered him to submit surety bonds of Rs500,000 for the bail.

Accountability Judge Malik Zulqarnain Awan issued a written order stating that Usman Buzdar expressed fear of arrest which needs consideration. The court asked the investigating officer to inform f the inquiry progress at the next hearing.

Barrister Momin Malik, the counsel for Buzdar, argued before the court that the bureau had launched another inquiry against his client.

He maintained that NAB has not yet sent any formal summons notice regarding assets beyond means of income case. He said NAB officials have mentioned the complaint in the reply submitted to the High Court Multan Bench.

He expressed concern that the anti-corruption watchdog may arrest Buzdar in the case. He urged the court to pass orders restraining NAB from arresting his client.

The state prosecutor termed the apprehension of Buzdar’s arrest as unjustified. He said the accused is on interim bail in the second case.

The court granted interim bail to former chief minister Punjab till Nov 30 and restrained the bureau from arresting

Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered NAB to avoid taking coercive measures against Buzdar and former federal minister Moonis Elahi in relation to inquiries against them.

On November 7, an accountability court granted interim pre-arrest bail to Usman Buzdar in an inquiry regarding the misuse of authority and corruption in awarding a liquor license to a hotel.

Usman Buzdar appeared before the court along with his counsel Barrister Momin Malik. The counsel argued that the petitioner had apprehension of his arrest due to malafide inquiry against officials of the Punjab Excise & Taxation Department, management of M/s Unicorn Prestige Ltd and others.

He stated that there was no evidence on record to suggest that the petitioner derived any illegal pecuniary advantage or benefit in any manner whatsoever.

He said no offence was made out against the petitioner for want of arrest under any provision of the NAO 1999. He asked the court to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner.

After hearing the arguments, Presiding Judge Naseem Ahmad Virk allowed bail to Buzdar till Nov 22 subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs 500,000. The judge also sought a reply from NAB on the next hearing.

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