ISLAMABAD   -  The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday stayed the local body elections in federal capital and asked the respondents to explain that why the local government act 2015 was replaced with an ordinance. 

Assistant Attorney General adopted the stance that the population of Islamabad was 0.8 million when the local body elections were held in 2015 under act. However, now the population had reached to two million in Islamabad. 

The AAG said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had warned to conduct elections under 2015 act if interior ministry failed to provide data within ten days. 

The court said that the ordinance could be issued only in emergency situation.  The AAG said that the Parliament’s session was adjourned on November 19, while the ordinance was introduced on 23th of the same month as the ECP had given a deadline of November 25. The court adjourned hearing of the case till March 3, with above instructions.

Court grants NAB further remand of three accused

An Accountability Court (AC) on Thursday granted National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a further 11 days physical remand of three accused including ex-municipal commissioner Korangi Masroor Memon and others.

The three accused Masroor Memon, account officer Vikash and audit officer Dharam Veer were produced before the AC-I Judge Muhammad Bashir after their 14 days physical remand ended. 

The NAB prosecutor said that the accused had signed the cheques, receipts and vouchers through which the payment was done against the petrol. The NAB had recovered jewelry, bonds, cash, property documents and vehicles from the custody of the accused. 

The NAB prayed the court to grant more physical remand of the accused for further investigation in line of the data recovered from the mobiles of accused. However, the defence lawyer opposed the request of further remand and prayed the court to send his client jail on judicial remand. He alleged that the NAB was working on basis of pick and choose. The court, however, granted the NAB further remand of the accused.

IHC seeks comments on bail plea of accused

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought comments from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on bail petition of accuses Saif-ur-Rehman in a case pertaining looting the citizens on the name of investment. The court also summoned the investigation officer of the case in person on next date of hearing. A division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard the bail petition of the accused. 

The petitioner’s lawyer Ahsan Bhon informed the court that the trial court had dismissed the bail case of his client. 

He prayed the court to turn down the decision of accountability court and grant his client post arrest bail. 

The court sought comments  from respondents and adjourned hearing till February 23.