LHC issues detailed verdict in Mir Shakil's case

The Lahore High Court has observed that no immunity from accountability is available to any person particularly when facing a charge of causing loss to the public exchequer and misuse of public power.

The court observed this in its detailed verdict while dismissing the petitions of editor in chief of Jang Group Mir Shakil and his wife seeking his release in the land allotment case.

The information laid before the accountability court was not false, which raised suspicion that petitioner committed the offence within the purview of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

"His custody can neither be termed as illegal nor improper for the purpose of maintaining a constitutional petition to declare his arrest unlawful," rules the verdict released by a division bench comprising Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem and Justice Farooq Haider.

The bench rejected all the arguments and grounds presented by the petitioners' counsel including a challenge to the issuance of arrest warrants by the chairman of the NAB and the jurisdiction of the bureau to probe into a 34-year-old transaction.

The bench ruled that the inquiry in question was not regarding a business or business transaction, thus the petitioner could not make out a case to avail the benefit of the NAB's policy/SOPs to deal with cases of businessmen.

"The petitioner however may avail the remedy for his release on bail at appropriate stage, if so advised," the bench said and clarified that observations made in the decision shall not influence the trial court.