Parallel banking accused remanded in custody

LAHORE, April 14: An accountability court granted on Thursday a 14-day physical remand of Zahid Farooq Cheema, an accomplice of Syed Sibtul Hasan Gilani, alias Double Shah, to NAB after the authorities sought extension in remand. The judge directed NAB officials to produce Cheema and the investigation report before him on April 28. Mr Gilani and others face trial for running illegal banking and Cheema is accused of luring the people into the banking promising them unprecedented profits against their deposits. DEATH SENTENCE: Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Chaudhry Ameer Muhammad Khan handed down death to Saifullah for murdering a union council nazim in October 2008. Chuhng police registered a murder case against Saifullah for murdering Maqsud Sarwar, UC 119 union council nazim, on the complaint of deceased's brother on October 10, 2008. The court also ordered the convict to pay a Rs500,000 fine to heirs. SUMMONED: The District Consumer Court on Thursday summoned the proprietor of a department store on May 4 for not paying Rs24,200 damages as ordered by the court last month on a petition filed against provision of defective services. The court summoned the defendant on a petition seeking 'execution of the court orders' filed by the complainant, Irfan Munawar, who sought compensation from Faisalur Rehman, owner of Mummy and Me department store, for providing defective services. The court had directed the store owner to compensate the complainant. Sadiq case:An accountability court summoned on Thursday prosecution witnesses in a reference against Ahmad Sadiq, former principal secretary to the late Benazir Bhutto, on May 7, 2011. According to the investigation report, Sadiq joined the government service in 1957 and retired on December 31, 1984. During this period, Sadiq’s assets were disproportionate to his income. Later, he served as the principal secretary to the prime minister from 1995 to 1996. During this period, his annual income was Rs13.015 million whereas his expenditures were Rs32.413 million. NAB had filed a reference against him but Sadiq was acquitted under thee National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). However, the reference was restored after the apex court struck down the law. Plea against AD&SJ: The Lahore High Court member inspection team (MIT) on Thursday referred an application to the chief justice which sought proceedings against additional district and sessions judge Muhammad Yousaf Aujla for allegedly releasing CIA operative Raymond Davis in the double murder of two Pakistanis. The MIT referred the case to the chief justice terming it a sensitive matter which should be decided judicially instead of administratively. The application was filed by Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffrey who accused the AD&SJ of acquitting Raymond Davis in an unusual manner and violating settled rules. He said the judge be asked to explain under what authority he allowed payment of Diyat to heirs of Raymond's victims and how he finalized the whole procedure in one day.