ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the operation of a lower court ruling and restrained authorities from arresting Najaf Hameed, brother of former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, in a case involving alleged land fraud.
The Supreme Court issued notices to the relevant parties seeking their responses after Hameed approached the IHC challenging the cancellation of his bail. The court also suspended proceedings related to the special judge’s order until the next hearing, effectively giving him temporary protection from arrest.
The development follows a written order by Special Judge Central FIA Shah Rukh Arjumand, who had canceled Hameed’s bail and ordered his immediate arrest. The order of the special court recorded allegations that the accused prepared a fake register and carried out 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 one-kanal plot. The court order also cited allegations of abuse of official position for personal gain and noted that an investigation under the Money Laundering Act is ongoing.
The FIA had argued before the trial court that detention was necessary to uncover material facts and complete the investigation. Prosecutors maintained that extraordinary relief such as bail could not be granted solely on the basis of a complainant’s statement or alleged settlement.
Read: Court orders arrest of former ISI chief Faiz Hameed’s brother after canceling bail
While the special court accepted the FIA’s bail cancellation application, Najaf Hameed was not present in the court when the order was announced.
Following the IHC’s intervention, the arrest warrant remains stayed and the matter has been adjourned for further proceedings.
