The Sindh High Court (SHC) constitutional bench on Friday granted 20-day protective bail to Sanam Durrani, daughter of former Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, who is currently in the United States and faces allegations of benefiting from her father’s alleged corruption.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the bench issued the order after government prosecutors and representatives of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) opposed her petition seeking safe return to Pakistan.
During the hearing before the constitutional bench, Justice Yousuf Saeed questioned the prosecution’s resistance, asking whether they did not wish for an absconding accused to return to the country.
The bench also inquired why the plea had been filed before a constitutional bench instead of a regular bench, to which the defence argued that the constitutional bench possessed the authority to address both fundamental rights and regular judicial matters.
The defence counsel requested eight to ten weeks for Durrani’s return, citing high ticket prices and limited seat availability in the USA in December.
The court, however, declined to allow such an extended period, directing that she must present herself before the accountability court immediately upon arrival.
It then approved her 20-day protective bail to facilitate her return.
A government lawyer informed the court that a reference against Durrani remains pending before Accountability Court-I.
The bench subsequently instructed the petitioner to appear before the relevant court once she lands in Pakistan.
Sanam Durrani reportedly left the country after her father’s bail was rejected in a corruption case that has drawn national attention.
Reporter: Mumtaz Jamali