KARACHI: Former Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani has been declared innocent in a long-running illegal assets case, five months after his death, following a move by the National Accountability Bureau to withdraw its reference.

The case, originally filed in 2019, accused Durrani of possessing assets beyond known sources of income. He had remained a central figure in the proceedings until his passing earlier this year. However, in a recent development, the accountability watchdog submitted a formal request to withdraw the reference, stating that the case does not stand on solid legal grounds.

NAB Withdraws Reference Citing Insufficient Grounds

According to officials, the decision was taken after a reassessment of the evidence. The chairman of the bureau noted that the reference lacks sufficient basis to proceed, prompting the request for its withdrawal.

Legal experts say the move effectively clears Durrani’s name posthumously, bringing an end to years of legal uncertainty surrounding the allegations. The development also highlights ongoing scrutiny over the quality of investigations and references filed by accountability institutions.

Durrani, a senior political figure in Sindh, had served multiple terms as speaker and was affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party.