ISLAMABAD: Two senior officers of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under the directives of Supreme Court (SC) have been arrested and sent to jail on contempt of court charges.
The SC had issued these directives on Thursday on the very occasion when the NAB officers attempted to arrest Irfan Ali, a wanted accused to NAB by subjecting him to violence while he was sitting in SC cafeteria. The SC 3-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Abdul Hamid Dogar issued these orders.
Dr Babar Awan and Sharif ud Din Pirzada filed application in SC on Thursday praying that NAB was harassing employees of Haris Steel Mills. The SC while issuing stay order in favor of Haris Steel Mills ordered NAB not to arrest any one of Haris Steel Mills till August, 6. As soon as the hearing was completed, 2 NAB officers Col (Retd) Tariq and Aslam tried to arrest Irfan Ali accountant of Haris Steel Mills who was sitting in cafeteria. They dragged and cast him into vehicle and later shifted him to unknown destination. The reporters of electronic and print media made coverage of this incident. Dr Babar Awan invited the attention of chief justice of Pakistan Abdul Hamid Dogar to this incident after it was telecast.
CJP took immediate notice of the incident and ordered the prosecutor general of NAB to present arrested accountant of steel mills and both the officers in the court forthwith. Following the SC orders both the NAB officers along with the accused appeared before the court. When asked by SC, Col (Retd) Tariq and Muhammad Aslam told the court the accused Irfan Ali was arrested after his arrest warrants were issued. Expressing his displeasure over it, CJP remarked as to who had authorized NAB to arrest any one from SC premises without permission.—Agencies