News Desk |
Prime Minister Khan has expressed his displeasure on the arrest and remand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Archeology Director, Ph.D. scholar and Fullbright alumnus Dr. Abdus Samad by NAB Peshawar.
In a tweet, PM Khan said that the Chairman NAB should take action against his officials who were involved in this “disgraceful” act.
The NAB Chairman should take action against those in his institution who are responsible for this disgraceful act. pic.twitter.com/kjJvZWrN3o
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 15, 2019
An accountability court in Peshawar late on Friday, 15th February 2019, placed director archeology and museums, Dr. Abdus Samad, in a ten-day remand, in custody of the National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was remanded in a case pertaining to the misuse of authority while making appointments of lower-wage employees at various archaeological sites. Bureau official claims Dr. Abdus Samad has appointed 90 staffers in violation of rules.
The lawyer said that his client had fully cooperated with the NAB during inquiry and investigation into the charges and there was no possibility of his absconding from the law as he had been serving on a responsible government position.
The accountability court Judge Naveed Ahmad Khan instructed the NAB officials to again present the Director on Feb 25. The court permitted close family members of the suspect to meet him during his custody with NAB. It also directed the NAB officials to allow the suspect to take vital medicines used by him in routine.
Dr. Samad was arrested a day earlier by NAB when he was asked to turn up at the bureau’s office for answering certain questions regarding the issue.
An investigation officer of NAB requested the court to allow 14 days of physical custody as the suspect had to be interrogated regarding different charges against him. He alleged that the suspect had made over 90 appointments of staffers at different archaeological sites in violation of the prescribed rules.
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The judge directed the NAB officials to treat the suspect with respect as he was a teacher and enjoyed respect in society. Dr. Samad’s counsel Shumail Ahmed Butt told the court that NAB had summoned Dr. Samad over a phone call and had arrested him without any warrant which was a violation of the code of conduct.
He told the court that his client was the youngest and one of the most talented directors of the archaeology directorate in the province and owing to his services he was awarded Tamgha-i-Imtiaz by the federal government.
The lawyer said that his client had fully cooperated with the NAB during inquiry and investigation into the charges and there was no possibility of his absconding from the law as he had been serving on a responsible government position.
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Dr. Samad addressed the court, stating that he was innocent and was implicated in a false case. He said that if he was proved guilty he should be awarded double sentence by the court, but in case of his innocence action should be taken against the concerned officials of NAB.