ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Defence Counsel, in Shafi Sehwani corruption reference, pleaded before an accountability court to give benefit of doubt to his client as the prosecution had utterly failed to produce enough evidence warranting conviction.

Babar Awan advocate, defending Abdul Rehman, former officer of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and Roohi Farzana, wife of former chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Shafi Sehwani, said that no crime had been committed by Abdur Rehman besides the statement of one witness Zawar Ahmad Jaffery, the deputy director industrial planning, on the basis of which the charges had been framed against Mr Rehman while the charges have already been given up by the prosecution.

Since Mr Jaffery was not examined, therefore, his statement could not be considered by the court rather it went against the prosecution as described by section 129(G) of the Qanoon-e- Shahadat, the counsel argued.

According to the charge, Shafi Sehwani in collaboration with Abdul Rehman acquired an industrial plot measuring 5000 square yards. “By misusing his authority Sehwani converted the plot into three plots. The plots were acquired by violating building rules and criteria.”

The counsel also tried to establish that the plot was not allotted in connivance with Sehwani who was not the chairman of CDA at that time.

Moreover, the then chairman of CDA had granted the plot to Rehman after interviewing him besides the CDA was not the complainant in this case despite the fact that it was at the loosing end. Moreover, the said plot was still intact and has not been cancelled.

The counsel also established that his client had the means to buy the plot besides he was not a wilful defaulter and had regularly paid taxes.