18 August 2004	Wednesday	01 Rajab 1425

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RAWALPINDI, Aug 17: An accountability court on Tuesday fixed August 25 for framing of charges against an ex-official of railways and eight other co-accused in a reference related to millions of rupees embezzlement in the purchase of equipments for civil defence.

Judge Mohammad Aslam fixed the date for indictment of the former divisional superintendent of Pakistan Railways, Rawalpindi Division, Ziaul Qamar, and eight other officials and contractors in a reference related to the alleged purchase of goods about Rs0.95 million on the inflated rates of Rs4.65 million.

The NAB on Monday had filed a reference against Ziaul Qamar and other co-accused including Khalid Mehmood, Fiaz Khan, Mohammad Aslam, Mohammad Basharat, Mohammad Mushahid, Shahzad Naqvi, Shahzad Ahmad and H Khalid.

In the reference, NAB had contended that those officials in connivance with the contractors had caused a loss of Rs3.443 million. According to the investigation, the railways officials had allegedly purchased civil defence equipments by paying Rs4.65 million, whereas the original price of the equipment was about Rs0.95 million during the period between July 1998 to April 1999.

Ziaul Qamar, who is already facing four other such references, is in the NAB's custody along with co-accused Fiaz Khan and Khalid Mehmood. While, the other co-accused in the case are still at large.

The court also adjourned till September 1 hearing in the BMW case against PPP leader, Asif Ali Zardari. The court adjourned the case due to the absence of the accused. Meanwhile, an accountability judge, Malik Manzoor Hussain, starts on Wednesday hearing of final arguments of the NAB's prosecutor in a corruption reference against former speaker of the National Assembly, Yousaf Raza Gillani, who is facing charges regarding appointments in the National Assembly Secretariat.

SHOs ARREST WARRANTS: District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Akram Awan, issued the arrest warrants of the station house officers of Sadiqabad and Cantt police stations for not appearing in the court for recording of their statements in two different cases. The court also directed the district account officer to withhold the salaries of both the officials till further orders.