In a case involving alleged land encroachment, a local court in Lahore granted the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) another two days’ physical remand of former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari.
Mazari was brought before the judicial magistrate’s court after his two-day physical remand expired last Sunday.
The anti-corruption establishment arrested the former deputy speaker of the provincial assembly on Saturday in connection with an alleged land encroachment case.
During the proceedings, the ACE requested that Mazari be remanded in custody for a longer period of time, while Mazari’s lawyer objected.
“The ACE required the remand in order to secure the land’s documents. Official records contain all of the records pertaining to the land “Mazari’s attorney.
He asserted that Mazari was the focus of a political investigation. “The Punjabi administration is retaliating politically by employing institutions. The prosecution cannot simply request physical remand in order to have it granted.”
The judge, however, rejected the attorney’s motion and instead ordered Mazari to remain in custody for a further two days while also ordering ACE to turn in the results of the inquiry.
Political instrument
Not just Mazari’s attorney accused the Punjab administration of abusing institutions. The Lahore High Court (LHC) criticised ACE Punjab last week for its recent activities against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, accusing the organisation of turning into a “political tool.”
The comments were made by the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench during the hearing of the minister’s lawsuit challenging the validity of the arrest warrants issued by ACE Punjab.
The court informed the Director-General of ACE Punjab, Nadeem Sarwar, who was also present during the hearing, “Your institution has become a political tool.”
The court remarked, “One [DG] arrives and forms a case, and another (DG) comes and concludes that case.” Additionally, it criticised the officer for using a fraudulent statement to obtain Sanaullah’s arrest orders.
