April 02, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

RAWALPINDI, April 1: Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench here on Tuesday issued notices to Attorney General of Pakistan and Prosecutor General NAB to appear before the court on April 21 in a government petition challenging the acquittal of the then Pakistan People’s Party minister of petroleum Anwar Saifullah.

The government had moved the LHC against the decision of accountability courts that absolved the former minister of all three corruption references prepared by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him.

Anwar Saifullah was allegedly involved in awarding Natural Gas Quotas to some of his close aides by not following proper procedure.

It was also alleged that he secured commission while awarding gas quotas when he was federal minister.

Division Bench comprising Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Justice Zubda-tul-Hussain heard the case and directed both AG and PG NAB to appear in the court and explain the legal position of the cases for the court.

In another case the LHC allowed bail to Asif Rabbani former secretary Gulshan Abad Housing Society against the surety bonds worth Rs500,000 and two personal guarantees.

There were allegations against Mr Rabbani that he in his capacity as secretary of the housing society misappropriated land and money of different clients. NAB authorities arrested the accused as there was a corruption reference against him but that reference has not yet been completed and submitted in the accountability court.

In another case the court comprising Justice Khalil Ahmad and Justice Kazim Ali Malik ordered the release of Noorul Ameen who was earlier awarded life sentence and imposed a fine of Rs500,000 for possessing 15kg of charas by a trial court.