0
LAHORE, June 25: Advocate Manzoor Ahmad Malik on Saturday continued cross-examination of investigating officer Mufti Abdul Haq, an FIA inspector and the main prosecution witness against ARD president Javed Hashmi, in a local accountability court. The acting PML-N president faces a reference which charges him with acquiring assets worth Rs28 million for himself and for family members disproportionate to his known sources of income.
His brother Nasir Husain Hashmi could not appear on Saturday.
His counsel submitted that summons could not be served on him and that Nasir Hashmi would appear on July 6 which the court had fixed as the next date of hearing.
Nasir was summoned when during the cross-examination of the investigating officer a property was identified in the name of four Hashmi brothers.
According to the charge-sheet, Mr Hashmi amassed these assets, having a market value of Rs38 million, during his tenure as a federal minister between 1991 and 1999. His wife, six daughters, a son-in-law and two brothers are alleged to be beneficiary one way or the other.
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi was brought to the court amid tight security from the Kot Lakhpat jail where he is serving a sentence of 23 years in the sedition case.
AKHTAR: The same court adjourned till July 2 a reference against former minister Chaudhry Muhammad Akhtar Vario. The hearing against PPP leader Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar was adjourned till July 9. Both are facing charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.
MUSHTAQ: The court also adjourned the hearing of a case against FIA former director-general Maj Mushtaq Ahmad (retd), till July 6. He is also facing a reference based on similar charges.
Zardari case: A special court, conducting the trial of Asif Ali Zardari and two others in a case of drug trafficking inside the Kot Lakhpat Jail was informed on Saturday that Mr Zardari was ill and could not travel to Pakistan to attend the proceedings.
His counsel Mian Jahangir submitted a medical certificate issued by a Dubai hospital. The court allowed the request and adjourned the trial proceedings till July 23. Co-accused Arif Baloch was present in the court while the third co-accused, Shorang Khan, has since died.
