12 high-profile arrests of 2019

12 high profile arrests of 2019. — Photo 

A year into the PTI's government tenure, and Prime Minister Imran Khan has already fulfilled his promise of "Mein inko rulaonga" (I will make them cry). 

He had vowed to bring accountability for the corrupt, though he didn’t mention that the majority of those would be from the opposition members.

Here are the 12 high profile arrests of 2019.

1- Asif Ali Zardari

Former president Asif Ali Zardari was arrested on June 10 by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in relation to the Park Lane reference and for allegedly laundering money through fake bank accounts. 

In 2009, The News had reported that a private company owned by Zardari and his son Bilawal purchased 2,460 kanals of prime land in Islamabad, valued at a CDA price of over Rs2 billion, at just Rs62 million. 

In a 1997 NAB case against Zardari, the same land was associated with the former president but an investigation into it was dropped then for lack of evidence. 

The cases pertained to transactions worth hundreds of millions of rupees to the leaders' private companies, allegedly, through fake bank accounts.

However, Zardari, on December 3, filed for a bail petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) on medical grounds.  After he filed for bail, the court ordered a medical board to be formed to investigate Zardari’s case.

PIMS Hospital board submitted its report on December 8, in which it said that the PPP co-chairperson may need an angiography or angioplasty. It said keeping him in custody could prove life threatening. It also diagnosed him with Type II diabetes.

Zardari was then granted bail by the IHC on December 11.

2- Maryam Nawaz

NAB on August 8 arrested Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz Sharif in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. NAB suspected Maryam of involvement in money laundering. 

It is alleged that she was involved in money laundering with the help of some foreigners during the period of 1992-93 when her father Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister.

Maryam had approached the high court on September 30 seeking post-arrest bail in the CSM case. She was granted bail by Lahore High Court (LHC) on November 4. 

While the PML-N leader is embroiled in this legal battle, she is also fighting to get her name out of the ECL to ‘take care’ of her ailing father, who is in London on bail in another case for medical treatment.

3- Rana Sanaullah

The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on July 1 arrested senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Rana Sanaullah, claiming that they had recovered a large stash of contraband from him.

Minister for Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi repeatedly claimed to have substantial evidence against Sanaullah. Yet, after almost six months, the prosecution has provided no such evidence to the court. 

On December 22 the anti-narcotics court extended the PML-N leader’s remand by 14 days. However, the LHC on December 24 granted bail to Sanaullah in the narcotics possession case. 

4- Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

NAB on July 18 arrested former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He was accused of illegally awarding a contract for an LNG terminal while he was serving as the petroleum minister in former PM Nawaz’s cabinet. 

NAB claimed the former government rented out a terminal of the Engro Group for 15 years at a cost of Rs27 million per day. The government, in April, placed a travel ban on him as well.

Abbasi’s remand was extended on December 16 and he is to remain in NAB’s custody until the next hearing into his case. 

5- Miftah Ismail

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail was arrested on August 7 by the country’s anti-graft body, NAB, after IHC rejected his pre-arrest bail.

Ismail was arrested in connection with an inquiry regarding the illegal awarding of LNG Terminal-1 to Engro Energy Terminal Private Limited. Miftah’s remand was extended on December 16 by 20 days.

However, Ismail’s bail plea was granted by the IHC on December 23. 

6- Faryal Talpur

Member of National Assembly and senior leader of PPP Faryal Talpur was arrested on June 14 by NAB.

Talpur along with her brother, former president Asif Ali Zardari, was accused of laundering money through fake bank accounts. NAB is investigating four cases where the former president and his sister are the prime accused. 

The cases pertain to transactions worth hundreds of millions of rupees to both the leaders' private companies, allegedly, through fake bank accounts. The IHC on December 17 granted bail to Talpur in the fake bank accounts cases against surety bonds worth Rs10 million.

7- Liaquat Ali Khan Qaimkhani

NAB arrested former director general (DG) Parks and Horticulture, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, and advisor to Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, on September 20.

Liaquat Ali Khan Qaimkhani is accused of involvement in the Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim scam and awarding fake contracts as DG Parks in the metropolis. The anti-graft had also accused him of embezzling at least Rs1 billion through fraudulent schemes. 

An accountability court on September 18 extended his judicial remand till January 9 2020.

8- Hamza Shahbaz

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shahbaz, was arrested on June 11 by NAB in the Ramzan Sugar Mills money laundering cases and owning assets beyond means. 

The accountability court on September 4 sent Hamza to Lahore's Camp Jail on judicial remand after rejecting NAB’s appeal seeking an extension in his remand.

His case hearing could not take place on December 20 due to a strike by lawyers. The hearing has been adjourned till January 3 2020. Hamza remains in the custody of jail authorities.

9- Khursheed Shah

NAB arrested senior leader of PPP  Khursheed Shah on September 18. He was accused of allotting himself an amnesty plot illegally from a cooperative society in Sukkur. 

He is also accused of acquiring assets worth some Rs700 million on names of his frontmen through ill-gotten money.

An accountability court on December 17 granted bail to PPP leader against surety bonds worth Rs5 million. 

NAB approached the SHC and urged it to nullify Khursheed's bail as it was 'against the law'. On December 23 the SHC suspended Shah’s bail in the assets beyond known sources of income case.

10- Aleem Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s stalwart leader Aleem Khan was arrested on February 6 by NAB. Soon after his arrest, Aleem resigned from the post of Punjab local government minister. 

Cases pertaining to owning assets beyond his known sources of income and offshore companies led to the MPA’s arrest.

On May 15, LHC granted him bail against surety bonds of Rs10 million. He still remains embroiled in a legal battle of a case pertaining to illegal acquisition of CDA land.

11- Agha Siraj Durrani

NAB, on February 20, arrested Sindh Assembly Speaker and PPP leader Agha Siraj Durrani.

He was accused in three cases pertaining to illegal appointments, accumulating assets beyond means and embezzlement of funds. 

After almost a year, on December 12, the SHC granted bail to Durrani and asked him to submit sureties of Rs1 million and his passport to the court. It was also ordered that his name be added to the ECL.

12- Ahsan Iqbal

PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal was arrested on December 23 by NAB as he appeared before it in relation to a corruption case.

According to NAB spokesman, the authority arrested the PML-N leader in relation to the Narowal Sports City Complex case.

An accountability court on December 24 granted a 13-day remand of Ahsan in connection with the Narowal Sports City corruption case.