18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 17: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the prosecutor-general of National Accountability Bureau, seeking a report on two cases against PPP leader Mushtaq Awan.

Through a petition, Mr Awan has sought court's permission for an Umra and removal of his name from interior ministry's exit control list and retrieval of his passport from the custody of NAB.

The counsel for petitioner submitted that some political leaders against whom NAB references were pending, were free to go abroad as members of the federal cabinet. He submitted that inclusion of the name of Awan on ECL was discriminatory and amounted to political victimization.

Mr Awan is standing trial in an accountability court on charges that he committed financial irregularities in awarding contracts for collection of octroi as a minister.