ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stayed the implementation of a lower court’s ruling and stopped authorities from arresting Najaf Hameed, the brother of former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, in an alleged land fraud case.
The High Court issued notices to the parties concerned and sought their responses after Hameed approached the IHC to challenge the cancellation of his bail. The court also stayed the proceedings on the Special Central Judge’s order till the next hearing, thereby providing him with temporary protection from arrest.
The development follows a written order by FIA Central Special Judge Shah Rukh Arjumand, who had canceled Hameed’s bail and ordered his immediate arrest. The special court order recorded allegations that the accused prepared a false register and made fraudulent mutation of land records.
According to the prosecution, Hameed allegedly cheated the complainant by transferring only 10 marlas of land instead of the agreed land of one kanal. The court order also cited allegations of abuse of official position for personal gain and noted that an investigation under the money laundering law was underway.
The FIA had argued before the trial court that custodial interrogation was necessary to discover important facts and carry out the investigation. Prosecutors argued that extraordinary measures such as bail could not be granted based solely on the complainant’s statement or a purported settlement.
Read: Court orders arrest of brother of ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed after canceling bail
Although the special court accepted the FIA bail application, Najaf Hameed was not present in the court when the order was announced.
Following the intervention of the IHC, the arrest warrant remains suspended and the case has been adjourned for further proceedings.
