April 01, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

RAWALPINDI, March 31: Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench here on Monday asked Prosecutor General, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to appear before the court on April 21 to interpret National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

The LHC order came after a former managing director of Pakistan Printing Corporation Peer Mukarramul Haq moved the LHC to get acquittal in a corruption reference under NRO.

LCH division bench comprises Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Justice Zubda-tul-Hussain asked the NAB prosecutor general to appear in the court as , former MD Pakistan Printing Corporation, had sought indemnity under new reconciliation law.

An assistant deputy prosecutor general appeared in the court that heard three identical petitions of former public servants against NAB convictions and said the NRO was not meant for every public office holder but only those who are falsely implicated in the corruption cases or were politically victimised could get benefit under the indemnity law. The court then directed PG NAB to appear in the court and further interpret the law of the court.

Peer Mukarramul Haq is brother to Peer Mazharul Haq, Leader of the House in Sindh Assembly and husband of Farzana Raja Secretary Information Pakistan Peoples Party Punjab.

There were two corruption references filed against Peer Mukarram in 2003 for irregularities in “Printing of Directories” and “Purchase of Papers”.

NAB through its two references alleged that the accused purchased paper for the corporation without advertising and he secured commission in the deal for publication of different directories.

Peer Mukarram was sacked from his office in 1988. Later an inquiry was initiated against him in 1997-98. The corruption references however were filed in 2003 and NAB courts gave 7 years and 5 years sentences to the accused in two corruption references. The accused has undergone three years imprisonment and later Supreme Court released him on bail. Peer Mukarram has applied his acquittal from the charges under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). Talking to Media outside the courtroom he said that all the charges against him were politically motivated.

Two former officials of Military Estate office had also moved the LHC against the NAB convictions saying they also came under the ambit of NRO.

Mohammad Amin and Abdul Naeem had said they were falsely involved in the land lease cases and an accountability court convicted them. They were charged of leasing a bungalow on mall Road in violation of rules and regulations.