LAHORE: An anti-corruption establishment (ACE) court on Thursday expressed dismay over non-appearance of federal minister for petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan in a fake degree case against him and warned him of issuing arrest warrants if he failed to appear on next hearing.

Earlier, a counsel for the minister told the court that his client was busy in Islamabad to attend a joint session of the parliament convened on the ongoing issue of national security.

The court reminded the counsel that a last exemption from personal appearance was being given to the minister as the sessions of the parliament pertained to national security. It noted that the proceedings had been adjourned for the last two years without any progress.

“Arrest warrants will be issued if your client fails to appear on next hearing,” the court told the counsel and adjourned the hearing till March 19.

Last month, the Lahore High Court had also withdrawn a 2017 stay given to the minister against proceedings before the anti-corruption court due to repeated requests for the adjournments on behalf of the minister’s counsel.

In 2012, the ACE had lodged an FIR against Khan under sections 420, 468, 471, 218, 109 of PPC and under section 5(2) 47 Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 over charges of corruption and having a fake diploma from the Punjab Board of Technical Education. The minister had been indicted in the case.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2019