LAHORE, Jan 2: An accountability court on Thursday awarded 14 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs2.4 million to a former secretary of PASSCO.

Muhammad Nawaz Malik has been convicted of living beyond his known sources of income.

The court ordered arrest of Nawaz Malik, who was on bail in this reference, following the pronouncement of verdict. The court also denied him the benefit of Section 382-B of Cr PC. Under the section, the total jail term awarded to an accused can be adjusted against his period of detention since his arrest.

The convict would stand disqualified for holding a public office at any level under Section 15 of the NAB Ordinance.

The court observed that maximum imprisonment laid down in the NAB Ordinance was being awarded to Muhammad Nawaz Malik to set a precedent for those indulged in corrupt practices.

The verdict in this reference was delivered after three-year trial as the convict was arrested in January 2000. The convict can move the Lahore High Court against his conviction within 10 days after the pronouncement of verdict.

According to the charge sheet, Nawaz Malik got himself illegally selected as a project director of PASSCO and further acquired the following properties disproportionate to his known sources of income:

One plot measuring two kanal in PASSCO Employees Cooperative Housing Society; four plots measuring one kanal each acquired as Benami property in PASSCO Employees Cooperative Housing Society; one plot measuring 7.5 marla in Kanal Park, Lahore; one kanal bungalow and a plot measuring one kanal in Murree Brewery Estate Scheme; Defence Saving Certificates worth Rs1.6 million and a car worth Rs800,000.

The NAB had further alleged that Nawaz was dismissed from the armed forces in May 1978. He had submitted an undertaking with the PASSCO that none of his family members would run a business during his service in this organization. He allegedly purchased new cars every year.

The convict allegedly spent around Rs1 million on the marriage of his daughter, where a dinner of 12 courses was served to thousands of guests. — Reporter