LAHORE: An accountability court on Wednesday allowed one-time exemption to former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf from personal appearance in proceedings against him on charges of making illegal appointments in Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco).

Advocate Iftikhar Shahid filed an application on behalf of Mr Ashraf for exemption from personal appearance in the court citing bad health of his client.

Judge Syed Najamul Hassan allowed the application of Mr Ashraf and summoned investigating officer of the case for cross examination on Dec 17.

Earlier, the counsel for the former premier completed cross examination of fifth and last prosecution witnesses presented by the NAB.

The NAB accused Mr Ashraf of making illegal appointments in Gepco during his stint as federal minister for water and power. It said the former prime minister misused his powers and appointed 437 people in Gepco from his electoral constituency without any merit.

Former secretary water and power Shahid Rafi, former directors of Gepco’s boards of governors including Saleem Arif, Malik Muhammad Razi Abbas and Wazir Ali were also involved in the same reference filed in 2016.

AHAD CHEEMA: An accountability court extended till Dec 20 judicial remand of Lahore Development Authority’s former director general Ahad Khan Cheema in Ashiana scam.

The NAB had arrested Cheema on Feb 21, 2018, on charges of misusing his authority with criminal intent and awarding Rs14 billion contracts of Ashiana-i-Iqbal housing scheme.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2018