An accountability court in Islamabad has issued non-bailable warrants for former prime minister Shaukat Aziz in a reference filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over alleged misuse of power during his tenure as premier of the country.

Accountability court Judge Arshad Malik issued the warrants against the former premier following his continued absence in the case's proceedings.

Former Sindh chief minister Liaquat Jatoi, former federal secretary Ismail Qureshi, former Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) chairman retired Air Marshal Shahid Hamid, and former AEDB secretary Brig Dr Nasim Akhtar Khan are also named in the case. Their requests to be excused for the today’s hearing were approved.

However, the court expressed great displeasure at the absence of others named in the reference.

Also read: Shaukat Aziz silent abroad

The hearing of the case was postponed until November 1.

Aziz, who served as the prime minister for three-and-a-half years, currently resides in the United States.

NAB had filed a reference against the former premier and others for illegally appointing Basharat Hassan Bashir as a consultant for the AEDB in an alleged violation of rules, reportedly resulting in losses up to Rs21 million.

According to NAB, the process of complaint verification, inquiry and investigation has been completed against the former prime minister after he was found guilty.