KARACHI, Sept 15: An accountability court put off on Thursday the hearing of a corruption reference against former Premier Benazir Bhutto and others as the defence counsel for two of the accused continued arguments.
Judge Parkash Lal Ambwani of the AC-4 fixed Sept 17 for the next hearing when Barrister Azizullah Shaikh, counsel for Ghulam Qadir Jamote and Naheed Khan, would resume arguments.
The reference against Benazir Bhutto pertained to 1,393 illegal appointments and promotions made in different cadres and postings abroad in violation of existing rules, regulation and procedure during her last tenure as prime minister.
Others, charged with corruption and corrupt practices, along with the former prime minister, included Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Umer Farooq, former PIA chief, Naheed Khan, Ghulam Hussain Kazi, Ghulam Qadir Jamote, Siraj Shamsudin and Najamul Hasan.
CASE AGAINST SALMA: The same court adjourned the hearing of a corruption case against Begum Salma Ahmed, a former member of the National Assembly, who was arrested on March 7 on corruption charges.
The judge fixed Sept 29 for the next hearing after the investigation officer placed on record an audit report regarding the misappropriated funds.
Begum Salma Ahmed has been charged with misappropriation of funds.
