Through the instant writ petition, the petitioner, Sheikh Zafar Iqbal, impugns the call-up notices dated 23.11.2020 and 15.02.2021 issued by the National Accountability Bureau ("N.A.B.") with respect to an inquiry. The petitioner also sought the grant of pre-arrest bail.
2. Vide order dated 24.02.2021, this Court admitted the petitioner to ad-interim pre-arrest bail.
3. Perusal of the order dated 19.04.2021 passed by this Court shows that the learned Special Prosecutor, N.A.B. had appeared with the Investigation Officer ("I.O."), and had contended that N.A.B. was not interested in arresting the petitioner but they needed further time to verify the assets' details, including foreign transactions.
4. Today , the learned Deputy Prosecutor General, N.A.B. appeared along with the I.O., and submitted that till date warrants for the petitioner 's arrest have not been issued, and for the time being the I.O. does not want to arrest the petitioner . He, however , submitted that in the future if further evidence comes to like, the I.O. may apply to the Chairman, N.A.B. to authorize the issuance of arrest warrants for the petitioner .
5. Since for the time being the I.O. does not want to arrest the petitioner , and the matter is still at the inquiry stage, there is no need to pass an order for confirming the ad-interim pre-arrest bail that was granted to the petitioner .
However , in line with the order dated 20.01.2021 passed by the Division Bench of this Court in writ petition No.2994/2020, titled "Mst. Rukhsana Bangash Vs. Chairman, National Accountability Bureau" , it is expected that when the I.O. feels the need to obtain approval for the petitioner 's arrest, N.A.B. will take into account the observations made in the judgment dated 18.12.2019 passed by this Court in writ petition No.769/2019, titled "Amjad Mustafa Malik Vs. Director General, National Accountability Bureau".
6. We are not inclined to interfere with the call up notices issued to the petitioner. The petitioner shall submit replies to the said notices, if not already submitted, and shall cooperate in the inquiry being conducted by N.A.B. The petitioner shall also appear before the I.O. as and when required and shall also furnish the documents and information required by him.
7. Petition stands disposed of in the above terms.