KARACHI, Oct 10: An accountability court heard on Monday final arguments from the defence and prosecution side on the acquittal plea of a former sales manager of the Thatta Cement Factory, who is facing trial in three corruption references.
Judge Ms Qaiser Iqbal of the AC-1, who is also the administrative judge of all accountability courts in Karachi, adjourned the matter till Oct 12 after she heard arguments from defence counsel Ghulam Sarwer and special public prosecutor Naeem Tanoli.
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 Parkash, Sultan Salahuddin, Mohammed Ashraf and Mahesh Kumar – were arrested in April for causing 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 approval.
Uttam Parkash deposited back Rs900,000 to the extent of his liability, while Mohammed Iqbal Zai made a partial payment of Rs2.35 million out of his total Rs6.92 million liability. He would pay back the remaining amount in two equal instalments as per the agreement with the NAB authorities.
EXTORTION CASE: Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the anti-terrorism court No 5 indicted on Monday six alleged associates of underworld don Arshad Puppu in an extortion case.
Riaz son of Sahib, Asghar Niazi son of Qasim, Arshad son of Ashraf, Shahnawaz son of Luqman, Javed son of Abdur Rehman and Nadim son of Shakoor, however, denied the charges.
