Malik acquitted in corruption reference

KARACHI – Accountability Court Judge Riaz Rajpot here on Thursday exonerated Interior Minister Rehman Malik from a corruption reference filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The court held the minister innocent after hearing final arguments from the counsels. After the judgment, Malik’s counsel Khwaja Naweed Ahmed told the media representatives that as the main witness in the case had changed his statement the court acquitted Malik on the basis of insufficient evidence.
During last hearing, the court had reserved the verdict on the minister’s plea for acquittal from Charcoal Contract Case. The defence counsel during his arguments had cited the Supreme Court remarks, made while admitting the bail application of Rehman Malik. The SC remark was that there was no solid evidence to prove his involvement in the corruption charges. He maintained that his client had been implicated in a false case to victimize him because of his affiliation with then opposition party the PPP.
NAB had filed a reference in 2004, accusing Rehman Malik of misusing his official position as an additional director of the Federal Investigation Agency in 1995, alleging that he gave a special quota of 50,000 tonne of bitumen without paying excise duty and other charges to NSR Company.
The corruption cases were reopened against Malik and several other political leaders after the Supreme Court invalidated the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
Meanwhile talking to the media in Karachi, Malik said the corruption cases registered against him were absolutely baseless and that justice had finally prevailed.
Malik also touched upon the security situation in Sindh, stressing that rangers or FC personnel could be deployed in the City if the need arises. Replying to a question, he opined that CNIC recovered from Abdul Malik Rigi was fake. Extra security measures would be adopted for local body elections on provincial governments’ request, he added.
He said the rangers would be deployed during the polling for local body election across the country if the provincial governments requested in this regard.