(CORRUPTION CHARGES) SHC DISMISSES SHARJEEL MEMON’S URGENT APPLICATION

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday dismissed an urgent application filed by the leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former provincial minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon, who is currently in the United Kingdom in selfexile. In his plea, he sought a protection bail to avoid his arrest in alleged corruption charges.

A Member of Sindh Assembly from Tharparkar’s PS 62, Memon, filed an application through his attorney Mazhar Hussain Pitafi, requesting the court to hear his bail plea on urgent basis. However, the SHC bench, headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, dismissed the urgent application. The former provincial minister for information submitted in his plea that he was in London when he came to know that his name had been placed in the Exit Control List. He informed the court that he knew through the media reports that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had initiated an inquiry against him. The applicant’s counsel submitted that neither his client was involved in corrupt practices nor he ever misused power being in government but attempts were being made to involve him in false cases for offences he had not committed.

Memon added that he wanted to face the trial in courts but apprehended that he could be arrested in relation to an inquiry which he maintained as ‘political victimisation’. Citing the director generals of NAB and Federal Investigation Agency as respondents, the petitioner prayed to the SHC to grant him a protection bail. It is pertinent to mention here that earlier the SHC had dismissed Memon’s plea which he filed against the initiation of corruption inquiry by the NAB due to non-prosecution. The NAB had told the SHC that there were enough evidences against former minister regarding embezzling of billions of rupees in the Sindh information department.

Memon left the country when the law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies initiated a crackdown against political leaders in corruption charges and wanted the court’s shelter for returning to Pakistan.