LHC issues notice to NAB on Afzal's bail application

LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices for July 13 to National Accountability Bureau on a bail application filed by Sheikh Afzal, Director Harris Steel Mill, involved in the Bank of Punjab scam.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu, passed the order on the bail application filed by the petitioner through counsel Dr Babar Awan.

The petitioner's counsel contended before the court that no allegation had been proved against Sheikh Afzal despite the fact that he was produced before the court more than 56 times.

He said that according to Article 25 of the Constitution all citizens were equal but clear discrimination could be seen in the matter as there was no bank fraud case which was conducted in this manner.

Referring to recent amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act, he said that Sheikh Afzal was neither a terrorist nor a dangerous person, therefore, his bail application be accepted.

After hearing the arguments, the Bench issued notices for July 13 to the NAB.

Afzal and his son Haris Afzal were arrested by the FIA from Malaysia in 2009. According to the investigators, Afzal, a director of Haris Steel, with co-accused Muhammad Munir, Ali Ijaz, Abid Raza and Irfan Ali, in connivance with Hamesh Khan and other officials allegedly opened 23 fake accounts with forged national identity cards and obtained loan of approximately Rs 9 billion from 2005 to 2007, using fake documentation, bogus collateral, fictitious guarantees and mortgage deeds executed by fictitious persons.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011