ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday directed Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani to surrender before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in assets beyond means case against him.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on October 14 had rejected the interim bail plea of Durani in assets beyond means reference against him filed by the NAB. However, it had accepted bail pleas of Durrani’s wife, son and three daughters in the same reference.

After the SHC rejected his bail plea, Durrani was allegedly hiding, fearing arrest.

Earlier, a NAB team had also raided his residence to arrest him, but it returned empty-handed as he was not present there. There had been no clue to his whereabouts since then.

Durrani later approached the SC for pre-arrest bail in the case. However, the apex court rejected his plea today and ordered the PPP leader to surrender before the anti-corruption watchdog.

A three-member top court bench, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, conducted the hearing of his petition against bail cancellation in a corruption reference.

“We have to proceed with the case as per the law,” said Justice Bandial during the hearing today, and added that “we [SC] will take up your bail petition once you surrender.”

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah observed that despite the rejection of his bail by the SHC, the accused had not surrendered before the NAB.

The apex court told Durrani to first comply with the SHC orders and surrender before the NAB, after which it would conduct adopt his petition for hearing next week.

The apex court also said maintained that it would not interfere in the matters related to the NAB.

Durrani’s counsel told the SC that his client had surrendered before the NAB and insisted the speaker Sindh Assembly should be granted bail.

“The court does not accept such surrender,” Justice Sajjad told Durrani’s counsel categorically.