NAB noose tightens around JUI-F leader's neck.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- As the date for 'Azadi March' of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) approaches, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) appears to be tightening the noose around its leader Akram Khan Durrani's neck in a case of alleged illegal appointments in the Pakistan Public Works Department as the anti-graft body on Monday implicated PWD Director Deneral Shahid Farzand in the matter.

Mr Farzand had sought bail before arrest from the Islamabad High Court in an inquiry related to the inductions in the PWD when Akram Durrani was federal minister for housing and works.

Surprisingly, when the case was taken up on Monday, Mr Farzand was not in the courtroom. His counsel informed the court that his client had been advised not to appear before NAB until his bail before arrest petition was taken up by the IHC

Mr Farzand had appeared before an investigation team at NAB's regional directorate of Rawalpindi and his mobile phone had been switched off since morning. The counsel said it appeared that NAB authorities had taken his client into custody.

The IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani asked the counsel if he wanted to turn his application into a post-arrest bail petition.

Director general of PWD, where 'illegal' appointments were made, implicated in case

The counsel replied that he was not in contact with his client. Later, with the permission of the court, he withdrew the bail petition.

'In case he [Farzand] survives, you may file the petition again,' said Justice Farooq.

Sources in NAB, however, said that Mr Farzand was allowed to leave after a comprehensive grilling, as the bureau was giving full opportunity to the suspects to defend them.

Farzand's counsel Shah Khawar said it was a routine practice that NAB waited for a final order of the court after it was informed about the filing of a pre-arrest bail petition.

He, however, said that after appearing before NAB his client did not contact him for filing a fresh petition.

Being the then chief engineer, Mr Farzand was in-charge of recruitment in BS-1 to 15 in the PWD.

In his bail petition, Mr Farzand said that he had invited applications for appointments against different positions on...