ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The Supreme Court will take up on Thursday a petition filed by the government for the cancellation of bail granted to Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, acting president of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and parliamentary leader of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) in the National Assembly.

Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, who remained in the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for about one year on the charges of acquiring movable and immovable assets worth Rs38 million by using his offi-cial position from 1991 to

1999, was granted bail by the Lahore High Court on Nov 11, 2002.

The government petition for cancellation of bail would be placed before the bench comprising Chief Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmad, Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Sept 25.

According to National Accountability Bureau authorities, Mr Hashmi was living beyond his means, as he failed to account for the assets during investigation.

The NAB authorities stated that the acting president of PML(N) till 1985, had owned agricultural land measuring 21 acres and two kanals in his own name while 10 acres and seven kanals in his wife’s name.

The National Accountability Bureau reference, pending before the accountability court at Lahore, accused Mr Hashmi of acquiring movable and immovable assets worth Rs 38 million through illegal means.

Makhdoom Hashmi termed cases against him as politically motivated.