LHC seeks reply from NAB on Farah Khan plea

• The bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural directed the NAB to submit its reply by December 14 explaining reasons for reopening a closed inquiry.
• The counsel alleged that the reopening of the inquiry by the bureau was an act of mala fide and political victimisation.
• He asked the court to set aside impugned call-up notices and the inquiry as well for being unlawful and without jurisdiction.

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Thursday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a petition of Farhat Shahzadi, aka Farah Khan, a friend of former prime minister Imran Khan`s wife Bushra Bibi, her husband Ahsan Jamil Gujjar and Ghausia Builders Gujranwala challenging an inquiry against them.

The bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural directed the NAB to submit its reply by December 14 explaining reasons for reopening a closed inquiry.

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Earlier, Advocate Azhar Siddique appeared on behalf of the petitioners and contended that the NAB lacked jurisdiction to hold an inquiry against private persons. He said the NAB issued call-up notices to the petitioners for an inquiry which had already been closed by it.

The counsel alleged that the reopening of the inquiry by the bureau was an act of mala fide and political victimisation.

He argued that the accountability watchdog had not furnished any details of the inquiry to the petitioners despite repeated requests as the housing scheme in question was legal and very old.

He asked the court to set aside impugned call-up notices and the inquiry as well for being unlawful and without jurisdiction.

On November 30, Farah Khan had sent Rs5 billion legal notice about her alleged involvement in the sale of Toshakhana gifts.

The legal notice by Farah Khan, whose real name is Farhat Shahzadi, had been sent to Pakistan-origin Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor, TV channel Geo News, and anchorperson Shahzaib Khanzada for airing the remarks.

The news channel had claimed that an expensive wristwatch gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman to former prime minister Imran Khan was sold by Farah Khan and former special assistant Mirza Shahzad Akbar to Pakistani-Norwegian Umar Farooq Zahoor in Dubai.

Zahoor had claimed he had evidence to prove he bought the rare watch and three other Toshakhana gifts from Farah Khan for 7.5 million Dirhams in cash.