PESHAWAR, April 10: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday dismissed a  writ petition of a former chairman of Sarhad Development Authority, Ahmad Nawaz Shinwari, seeking his release on bail.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Shahjehan Khan directed the accountability court to conclude the trial of the petitioner within three months.

The petitioner has been facing trial in a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau, charging him with possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Barrister Zahoorul Haq, the counsel for the petitioner, argued that he was arrested in February 2001. He argued that under the NAB Ordinance, 1999, the accountability court had to conclude a trial in 30 days.

He pointed out that since December 20, 2002, no proceedings took place in the case because of non-availability of the presiding officer of the court.

He said 92 prosecution and 10 defence witnesses had recorded their evidence.

The prosecution had yet to cross-examine five defence witnesses, he said and added that on the grounds of delay in conclusion of the trial, the petitioner was entitled to be released on bail.

NAB Deputy Prosecutor Mian Fasihul Mulk informed the court that the government had appointed a judge of the accountability court and the trail would commence.

The bench dismissed the petition seeking release on bail of a former chief officer of Mansehra district council, Anwer Badshah.

The bench directed the trial court to conclude hearing of the petitioner’s case in two months. Mr Badshah is been facing trial for  possessing illegal assets. Advocate Zaffar Abbas Zaidi appeared for the petitioner and argued that because of delay in conclusion of the trial, he was entitled to be released on bail.

The NAB counsel said the evidence of two prosecution witnesses remained and the trial was near its conclusion.