January 19, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 09, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 18: The Accountability Court No.2 on Friday adjourned till Jan 22 the hearing of a reference (No.20/2002) filed by the National Accountability Bureau with regard to the losses to the tune of over Rs168 million caused to the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI).

According to the reference, Shaikh Barkatullah, former EOBI chairman, in connivance with general manager (finance) of the Prudential Commercial Bank Limited Mohammad Tahir Siddiqi and others had indulged in corruption and other schedule offences to deprive the EOBI of FIBs having a face value of Rs1,040 million, deriving benefits of more than one billion rupees. They had, thus, caused a loss of about Rs168,842,672 to the EOBI.

The Accountability Court No.4 put off the hearing of another NAB reference (No16/2006) against Mohammad Faisal Farooqui till Feb 12.

Farooqui, a shipping master in the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, is accused of taking illegal gratification for the issuance of CDCs to Seamen and Merchant Navy officials. He was arrested by the NAB in another reference last year.

The same court issued summons to a prosecution witness in a NAB reference (No.15/2006) filed against Sultan Khan, a clerk in the Appraisement Collectorate, Customs House, Karachi, and adjourned the proceedings of the case till Feb 15.

According to the reference, Sultan Khan, during his service from 1979 to 2004, received Rs380,000 as prize money and an amount of Rs820,854 on account of salary/allowance and rewards.

He entered into real estate business and earned Rs1,118,482 for the sale and purchase of various properties. He spent about Rs1.4 million on education of his children, payment of utility bills, transportation and under other miscellaneous heads. In addition, he purchased Defence Saving Certificates worth Rs1.75 million between 1999 and 2000. The accused owns a flat (No.7-A, 3rd floor, Mono Terrace, DHA) worth Rs800,000.

As against his total receipts of approximately Rs2,319,336, the accused spent about 3,950,000 and has a flat and Defence Saving Certificates. The NAB reference maintains that he spent Rs1,630,664 in excess of his declared earnings and receipts.

The same court adjourned

another NAB reference (No.2,3,4/2007) against Mian Aftab Ahmed, former director of the Shaharyar Textile Mills and Firdous Spinning and Weaving Mills, and others till Feb 12.—PPI