KARACHI, Oct 3: An accountability court reserved the order on Monday notice on the acquittal plea of former sales manager of the Thatta Cement Factory, who is facing corruption charges. Judge Ms Qaiser Iqbal of the AC-1, who is also the administrative judge of all accountability courts in Karachi, fixed Oct 10 for the pronouncement of the order after hearing the arguments from the defence and prosecution attorneys.
Sales manager Maqsood Ahmed, along with Riazul Hasan Rizvi, former TCF MD, and a cement dealer Mohammed Ashraf, has been charged with causing losses to the national exchequer through fake rebate claims.
The former TCF chief, former manager sales, and dealers — Mohammed Iqbal, Uttam Perkash, Sultan Salahuddin, Mohammed Ashraf and Mahesh Kumar -– were arrested in mid-April for causing colossal losses to the national exchequer.
On July 7, the administrative judge ordered the release of two dealers of the Thatta Cement Factory after approving their plea of bargain.
Accused Mohammed Iqbal Zai and Uttam Parkash were ordered to be released after they made payments to the extent of their liabilities.
The two dealers approached the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau with bargain plea agreeing to pay back the amount they had secured through fake rebate claims. The NAB chairman accepted their plea and referred it to the administrative judge of accountability courts for her approval.
Uttam Parkash deposited back Rs900,000 to the extent of his liability, while accused Mohammed Iqbal Zai made a partial payment of Rs2.35 million out of his total Rs6.92 million liability. He would make the payment of the remaining amount in two equal instalments as per the agreement with the NAB authorities.
ACCUSED IDENTIFIED: One of the four accused in a kidnapping and murder case of a young man were identified by a prosecution witness before an anti-terrorism court.
Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC fixed Thursday for the next hearing after the deposition by Mohammed Iqbal, who identified accused Fayyaz alias Papu, Mohammad Rehan Khan, Abdul Jabbar and Imran with their specific roles.
The four accused have been charged with the kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Ali, 30, in October last year within the limits of the North Nazimabad police.
The victim was kidnapped for ransom on Oct 10 and his body was found at a desolate place near Sohrab Goth on Oct 12 after the family failed to arrange the ransom.
The prosecution witness stated that he was on his way when he ran short of fuel. He said he stopped at a petrol pump for fuel. He said he saw accused Fayyaz standing besides a Suzuki pick-up and talking to some men and women. He said suddenly there appeared a police mobile and accused Fayyaz fled the scene in his Suzuki. He said he went to the scene and was told about the kidnapping of Mohammed Ali by his family members.
The prosecution witness was also cross-examined by defence counsel Khawaja Naveed. The state is being represented by special public prosecution Naimat Ali Randhawa.
According to prosecution, accused Fayyaz was arrested along with some other suspects in North Nazimabad by a team of anti-violent crime cell (AVCC), who had gone in the vicinity to arrest some other suspects. A Kalashnikov rifle and other weapons were recovered from the suspects.
Later, during the interrogation, accused Fayyaz revealed to have kidnapped and murdered Mohammed Ali along with his accomplices. The police on his lead arrested other accused on different dates.
