The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday arrested the Axact Chief Operating Officer (CEO), Shoaib Shaikh, outside the Sindh High Court (SHC) after the court annulled his acquittal by the Sessions Court in the 'Hawala' case. A division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto was hearing the appeal of FIA that challenged the trial court's verdict and maintained that the district and sessions court did not follow due procedure while acquitting Shoaib. Earlier, the district and sessions court had relived the Axact chief from the charges while hearing an application under section 265-K of Criminal Procedure Code.
The FIA prosecutor requested the SHC to set aside the impugned verdict, contending that there were sufficient evidences against the Axact CEO. The defense counsel, while denying all the charges leveled against Shoaib, requested the court to dismiss the FIA's appeal.
After hearing the arguments, the bench accepted the FIA's appeal and ruled the verdict of the sessions court that acquitted Shoaib as annulled. The SHC also ordered retrial of the case and directed the concerned court to decide the case within three months.
Following the verdict, the Axact CEO tried made an attempt to flee from the court in his car but he could not do so as the FIA personnel reached there to nab him. He then returned to the court premises from where no accused person can be arrested as per traditions.
In another bid to avert his arrest, Shoaib's lawyers filed an application and requested the court to restrain the FIA from arresting him by suspending its own order for three days or grant him protective bail. Shahab Sarki, who was representing the Axact chief, submitted before the court that his client was willing to surrender before the trial court but apprehended that he could be arrested by the FIA.
This application was also turned down by the judges who ruled that the protective bail cannot be granted. After the dismissal of the bail application, Shoaib came out of the SHC premises where the FIA team was waiting for him for several hours. The FIA personnel eventually managed to take the Axact CEO in their custody and shift him to their office.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.