Two-member headed by Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry
rejected the bail plea of accused Hamish Khan and Sheikh Afzal in the
Bank of Punjab corruption scandal here on Tuesday.
Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry said that how we can grant a bail to a
person, who had run away from the country after committing corruption.
In the reply Hamish Khan said that his life was in danger and police
were conducting raids at his home, adding that he was not aware that
his name was included in Exit Control List (ECL).
In the previous hearing CJ LHC directed lawyer of the Bank of Punjab
Masooma Bokhari to appear in the next hearing and had ordered her to
complete arguments otherwise court will announce judgment.
During the hearing on Tuesday Massoma Bokhari told the court that
Hamish Khan is equally involved with the Sheikh Afzal in scandal
because Hamish Khan provided loan on the fake documents and 23 fake
accounts of Sheikh Afzal’s employees were opened to transfer the money.
It was also reveled in the court that Sheikh Afzal bought property in Dubai instead of spending loan money on industry.
In the reply Sheikh Afzal said that when he was out of country
authorities included his name in ECL, adding that he wanted to come
back to face the cases against him.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) personnel told that the court
that loan was taken on fake documents and more loans were provided in
the replace of fewer valuables.
Counsel of both sides completed their arguments in four hours and
the court announced the judgment that applications of Sheikh Afzal and
Hamish Khan are rejected.
It is worth mentioning here that Hamish Khan is accused in Punjab
Bank scam because of nine billion forgery and he fled in America and
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry after
taking a suo motto notice of the case had ordered the concerned
authorities to brought back Hamish Khan in the country.
Hamish Khan filed an applicant for the bail to former chief justice
LHC Khawaja Muhammad Sharif with the request to change the bench and
then Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry heard the bail plea and announced the
judgment. SANA
