PESHAWAR, Sept 16: An accountability appellate bench of the Peshawar High Court reserved judgment on Tuesday in an accountability appeal filed by former provincial health minister Abdul Haleem Khattak against his conviction.

The appellant has requested the high court to set aside his conviction by an accountability court on Jan 3, 2002, in a reference pertaining to possession of illegal assets and misuse of authority.

The accountability court, presided over by Syed Yahya Zahid Gillani, had sentenced Mr Khattak to seven-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs56.805 million and forfeiture of his properties to state.

The trial court also found him guilty of misuse of authority and was sentenced to four-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs500,000. Both the prison terms have to run concurrently. He was also declared disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years.

Senior advocate Qazi Mohammad Anwer appeared for the appellant and argued that the evidence on record proved that the appellant had not acquired properties through illegal means. He added that the appellant had provided evidence about the means from which he acquired his properties.

Mr Khattak was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on July 29, 2000, and a reference was filed against him before the accountability court on Oct 5, 2000. During the trial, 127 witnesses were examined — 42 prosecution and 85 defence witnesses.

According to the NAB, the convict had served as prosecuting sub-inspector (PSI) of police in BPS-7 between 1970 and 76. He resigned from the service and in 1979 contested election to a seat of district council, Kohat, becoming its chairman. In 1982, Karak was declared a district and the convict became its chairman. He remained the chairman till 1987. In 1993, he was elected member of the provincial assembly from PF-32 Karak.

The convict served as provincial minister in cabinets of Pir Sabir Shah and Aftab Sherpao till 1996. A reference was also filed against him by the erstwhile Ehtesab Bureau charging him of carrying out illegal appointments in the health department, but he was acquitted in that reference by an accountability court more than three years ago.