ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in bail of Anwar Majeed on medical grounds. A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin heard the petition of Anwar Majeed, chairman of the Omni Group and close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, for bail in the fake bank accounts case. Justice Qazi said may Allah grant good health to Anwar Majeed. He inquired from Munir A Malik, who represented Anwar Majeed, whether his client wanted bail to go abroad for treatment.
The judge said the experience of going abroad for medical treatment after getting bail from court had not been good.
Munir Malik said the Sindh High Court said that there was no concept of allowing an accused to go abroad for medical treatment.
Malik, who argued the case from Karachi Registry through a video link, told that Anwar Majeed's treatment was possible abroad as his surgery in Pakistan was not successful.
Justice Mushir Alam questioned whether the accused was not seeking bail, but wanted the court's permission to allow him to go abroad for medical treatment. The counsel replied that the constitution guarantees every citizen to avail medical treatment of his choice.
The court questioned what was the guarantee that Anwar Majeed, after the treatment would come back. The counsel replied that whatever guarantee the court wanted would be provided. The bench after hearing the arguments adjourned the case until September 2nd. The Islamabad High Court in June this year had rejected the bail application of Khawaja Anwar Majeed, Omni Group chairman in the fake bank accounts case. The fake bank accounts case pertains to alleged money laundering worth billions of rupees through 29 accounts opened in three banks.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had named PPP leader Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Anwar Majeed, his sons, and over 10 others as accused in an interim reference filed in a banking court in August 2018.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020