Chairm­an NAB can issue warran­ts of arrest­s even after the refere­nce is filed, says IHC judgem­entISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC), in its detailed judgement of PPP co-chairperson’s bail plea dismissal, stated no ulterior motive can be attributed to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the arrest. However, in its written order, IHC said NAB’s arrest of Zardari was based on the need for further investigation of the accused and as such, there is no ulterior motive involved in his arrest. The judgement also states that arguments on behalf of the petitioners that chairman NAB does not have authority or jurisdiction in the matter are “without substance”. The court maintained that the Supreme Court (SC) fixed a standard for bail in NAB cases in the Avenfield reference. Former president Asif Ali Zardari was arrested by NAB last week after IHC recalled the pre-arrest bail granted to him and his sister Faryal Talpur in the fake accounts case.

Source: The Express Tribune June 18, 2019 06:47 UTC