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| July 16, 2005 | Saturday | Jumadi-us-Sani 8, 1426 |
Hashmi’s brother moves court
LAHORE, July 15: Nasir Husain Hashmi, the brother of ARD President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, on Friday moved a local accountability court to know why he was being quizzed in the reference against his brother by levelling allegations which were not mentioned in the original charge-sheet formulated by the National Accountability Bureau. He moved an application in court, headed by Judge Shafqaat Ahmad Sajid, stating that his name had been included as a co-accused while no such charge had so far been made out against the main accused. He stated that charging a co-accused before the main accused violated law.
His counsel, Manzoor Ahmad Malik, stated that Nasir’s name did not appear in the original list of the accused and a belated decision to the effect violated the CrPC and even the NAB law.
The bureau charged Nasir last month with being a share-holder in an agricultural land at Kot Addu, the Al-Makhdoom Cotton Factory and the Zahid Daal Factory in Multan, besides a few outhouses near Multan.
The counsel submitted that the NAB had earlier held a daughter of Javed Hashmi as a co-accused and share-holder in the properties and was now involving Nasir Husain without producing any evidence.
When the court asked NAB prosecutor Asad Manzoor Butt to offer explanation to the contention, he sought adjournment to seek instructions from the bureau. The proceedings in the reference were put off till July 20.
Nasir Husain was summoned last month when the NAB named him as one of the owners of a property, which Mr Hashmi had allegedly purchased in his name and three other brothers’ names. He did not turn up for a lack of service of the summons and the next time he submitted a medical certificate for staying away.
The counsel, in the meantime, continued the cross-examination of investigating officer Mufti Abdul Haq, an FIA inspector, and the main prosecution witness against Mr Hashmi.
Mr Hashmi, who is facing allegations in a reference that he had illegally acquired assets in his name and in the name of some members of his family, was brought to court amid tight security from the Kot Lakhpat Jail where he is serving a 23-year imprisonment after conviction in a sedition case.
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