PESHAWAR, Oct 8: The special judge (anti-corruption) Azhar Khan on Saturday convicted two record keepers of the revenue department for committing corruption and sentenced them to a collective 22 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000.

Following completion of the arguments in the case, the judge pronounced that the prosecution had proved its case against the two accused persons, Meraj and Nazeer, both residents of Chitral district.

The court sentenced Meraj to 12 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs300,000 whereas Nazeer was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment with Rs200,000 fine.

Both the accused were record keepers at the record room of the revenue department at Chitral district. A case was registered against them by the anti-corruption establishment on March 21, 2007, after completion of inquiry on a complaint filed by a resident, Shaukat Zaman.The complainant alleged that the two accused persons had fraudulently tampered with the documents of his properties situated in Chitral.

He alleged that the accused had made changes in the record. He added that the accused were demanding bribe from him for correcting the tampered record.

The special prosecutor for state contended that the evidence on record proved that the accused persons had committed the said crime. He added that the accused had committed an offence falling under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

NOTICES ISSUED: A local court on Saturday issued notices to three officials of the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company, including an executive engineer, in a contempt of court case wherein they were charged with violating a stay order issued by the court.

The additional district and sessions judge Liaqat Ali Marwat directed the three officials, the XEN, a sub-divisional officer and a superintendent of Peshawar Electricity Supply Company, Gulbahar circle, to clarify their position regarding the allegations.

The contempt of court application is filed by a resident, Abdul Ghaffar, stating that few days ago he had filed a case against excessive billing by Pesco and in that case the court had extended interim relief to him by directing the authorities not to recover the controversial amount from him.

However, he added that contrary to the court's order the officials of Peshawar Electricity Supply Company disconnected the supply of electricity to his residence. He said that the officials also took away the electric meter from his house.

After hearing the arguments, the court issued notices to the Pesco officials.