Karachi (HRNW) – The Sindh High Court heard a bail application filed by former Project Director Zameer Abbasi in a case involving alleged corruption of Rs8.5 billion in the BRT Yellow Line project.
During the hearing, Zameer Abbasi’s counsel Raja Ali Wahid argued that the government lawyer had given a no-objection to the bail application before the trial court. He stated that Zameer Abbasi is a competent bureaucrat and a capable officer.
Justice Meeran Muhammad Shah questioned what misappropriation had taken place in the case. The defense counsel replied that there was no allegation of embezzlement and that the case was related only to alleged advance payments.
The counsel argued that no contractor had been accused of receiving illegal benefits and that none of the three contractors involved in the project had been nominated as accused or witnesses. He questioned whether Zameer Abbasi was even the disbursing authority responsible for the payments.
Justice Meeran Muhammad Shah observed that the government counsel had already given a no-objection and remarked that he himself had served as a government lawyer for 16 years. The court questioned how corruption cases were being established and asked whether the case had been registered on the complaint of CMIT.
The court further observed that in anti-corruption cases, the complainant is often the investigating officer, and noted that there appeared to be no affected party in this matter.
The defense counsel stated that making advance payments did not constitute any wrongdoing. He argued that before Zameer Abbasi’s appointment, work on the project was progressing very slowly, while advance payments were still being made and funds were being received from the World Bank to accelerate development work.
The counsel claimed that Zameer Abbasi had faced injustice and informed the court that an application regarding his alleged disappearance had also been filed before the Anti-Corruption Court. He said that after an application was filed in Lahore, a case was registered and Zameer Abbasi’s arrest was later shown.
The defense further stated that Zameer Abbasi had provided complete answers to 128 questions asked by the investigation officer and that there was no justification for keeping him in custody.
The court asked the defense counsel why Zameer Abbasi should be granted bail. In response, the counsel argued that there was no allegation of misappropriation against him and that those allegedly benefiting from the payments had not been made accused in the case. He claimed that the case itself was registered unlawfully.
The government lawyer informed the court that the case was registered under anti-corruption laws. He stated that Zameer Abbasi was arrested on June 22, while the BRT Yellow Line project was initiated in 2019.
According to the government counsel, all conditions were mentioned in the contract, and the main issue was that 70% advance payments were allegedly made without approval. He further claimed that the World Bank was not informed about these advance payments.
The Sindh High Court adjourned the hearing on Zameer Abbasi’s bail plea until August 12 and directed the government counsel to continue arguments on the next date of hearing.
Support HRNW:
Support Human Rights News Worldwide (HRNW) in promoting independent journalism and human rights awareness:
https://www.hrnww.com/?page_id=1083
Disclaimer: This report is based on court proceedings, arguments presented by lawyers, and statements from the parties involved. The allegations in the case have not been proven in a court of law, and all parties have the right to legal defense.
