BoP loan fraud case: LHC rejects bail plea of Hamesh, Shaikh Afzal

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of Hamesh Khan, former president Bank of Punjab (BoP), and Sheikh Afzal of Haris Steel Mill, in the Rs 9 billion BoP fraud case. An LHC division bench headed by Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry after hearing the prosecution and defence counsels at length observed that the accused were absconders and could not be granted concession of bail.
Advocate Mehmood A. Sheikh represented Hamesh Khan while a panel comprising Ahmad Awais, Waqar Hassan Mir and Asad Manzoor Butt defended Sheikh Afzal. Advocate Maqsooma Zahra Bokhari of BoP and a deputy prosecutor of NAB Mian Bashir opposed the bail petitions.
Hamesh's counsel argued that his client was on leave when all the illegal loans were sanctioned, therefore, he had no role in the scam. When he came to know about the fraud, he himself referred the matter to National Accountability Bureau and also suspended seven bank officers including general manager.
He said his client had obtained interim bail from the high court but the NAB authorities continued raids on his residence. The threatening circumstances forced Hamesh to flee abroad and to save his life, the counsel said and added that Hamesh had himself written to the SC that he wanted to come back.
BoP counsel submitted that an independent inquiry submitted to the Supreme Court had declared Hamesh and Afzal accused in the loan fraud. She said Hamesh was the leader of the gang involved in sanctioning of illegal loans. The BoP counsel said the accused were not trust worthy and may again escape abroad if the court released them on bail.
The NAB prosecutor said Hamesh had issued billions of rupees loan on bogus papers and caused huge loss to the bank, therefore, the relief of bail could not be given to him. He said Hamesh Khan escaped abroad despite his names was placed on ECL. Accused Sheikh Afzal sought bail concession pleading that he was falsely implicated in the case and he did not enjoy good health. The bench dismissed bail petitions and observed that the accused may again run away if they were released on bail.
NAB had filed a reference on September 27, 2007, against 12 people, including six officials of Bank of Punjab and six other accused in Rs 9 billion fraud. After the filing of reference, name of the Hamesh was put on exit control list, however, on March 27, 2008, he managed to flee the country. Hamesh was arrested in US following Pakistan's request to the Interpol and was extradited to Pakistan.