PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday disposed of a police officer’s petition against the inquiry into his assets after learning that the National Accountability Bureau Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has closed the probe.

A bench consisting of Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Roohul Ameen Khan Chamkani observed that as the inquiry against police deputy inspector general Fasihuddin had been closed by the NAB, his petition had become infructuous.

Lately, the court had stopped the NAB from harassing or arresting the petitioner until further orders and sought reply from it on the petition.

The petitioner, who currently works as the director (research) at the provincial counter-terrorism department, is the founding member of the Pakistan Society of Criminology. Besides, he also edits the Pakistan Journal of Criminology.

The petitioner had claimed that for few years, he had been harassed by the NAB in the name of an inquiry into his assets despite the fact that he had provided their details to it.

He had claimed that his assets regarding which the NAB had sought explanation were earned through genuine means and that evidence were given to the NAB for it.

Barrister Waqar Ahmad represented the petitioner and contended that twice the inquiries were closed against his client as nothing illegal could be found in that regard.

He, however, said another inquiry had been launched against his client and that a call-up notice was issued to him when he had gone abroad in connection with his professional obligations.

The lawyer said the NAB had not only been harassing his client but also his close family members were subjected to harassment.

When the bench began proceedings in the case on Thursday, NAB special prosecutor Azeem Dad submitted a reply to the petition on behalf of the bureau stating the said inquiry was closed as nothing objectionable could be established against the petitioner.

He said the bureau had no longer been carrying out the inquiry against petitioner.

On the assurance given by the prosecutor, the bench decided to dispose of the petition.

NAB STOPPED: The bench also granted interim relief to Peshawar Development Authority director (planning) Mohammad Jan and stopped the NAB from arresting him in connection with an inquiry into his assets.

It issued notice to the NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to respond to the director’s petition.

The petitioner’s lawyer said his client had provided details of his properties to the NAB but even then, a call-up notice was issued to him asking him to turn up at the NAB offices for interrogation.

He said his client feared that the NAB would arrest him although all his assets were lawful.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015