Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah on Monday said that former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been granted a time extension for the sake of justice.
“All the accused people are given time so that they can get justice,” he said at an award ceremony program at the ACC office in Segunbagicha of the capital.
“There is nothing to make it complicated whether Benazir appeared before the ACC or not,” he said, adding that Benazir would have got time, like other accused are granted, even if he had not filed a time petition.
In this case, no application is required. The investigation officer gives the time. It is a provision of law, he added.
Who is overseeing Benazir's seized properties?
ACC sets new date to grill Benazir's wife, childrenThe ACC does not label anyone as a criminal when it receives a complaint against a person. “We don't call anyone a criminal until the chargesheet is given to the court. It is a provision of law,” said Moinuddin.
“For the sake of justice, we hear the statement of the complainant so that the person (the accused) can never say that the ACC didn’t consider his words,” he said.
The event was organized to hand over the ACC Media Awards for 2020 and 2021 to the winners. A total of 12 journalists from the print, online and television media were awarded at the event.
On Sunday, the ACC rescheduled the interrogation of Benazir Ahmed's wife, Zeeshan Mirza, and his two daughters for June 24.
This extension was granted following an application submitted through their lawyer. Initially, the ACC had scheduled Benazir's interrogation for June 6 and deferred it to June 23 upon his request for more time.
His wife, Zeeshan Mirza, and his daughters, Farheen Rishta Binte Benazir and Tahsin Raisa Binte Benazir, were initially summoned for questioning on June 9. Following their request for an extension on Sunday, the ACC set their new date for June 24.
On May 23, a Dhaka Court ordered the authorities concerned to confiscate all moveable and immovable properties of Benazir in connection with the allegations of corruption brought against him. Of them, 33 bank accounts were frozen and properties of 83 deeds were attached.
