ISLAMABAD: The accountability court of Islamabad on Wednesday acquitted former Member National Assembly and local leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Anjum Aqeel Khan in the National Police Foundation (NPF) land scam case.

Accountability judge Mohammad Arshad Malik announced the decision on the reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Khan in 2014.

The court also acquitted the co-accused Abdul Manan, Chaudhry Iftikhar and Khuda Baksh in the same reference.

Khan was accused of causing huge loss to the national exchequer in the purchase of land for NPF housing scheme. According to the prosecution, Khan provided 45 kanals less land to the NPF, though he was was paid for the land.

Khan on the other hand informed the court that the NPF required 1,040 kanals and as per the contract the housing scheme is in possession of 1,200 kanals. He said out of the total 1,200 kanasl, he provided 608 kanals to the foundation.

He, however, said that title of some of the land in question could not be transferred in the name of NPF, but that land has been acquired and developed by the society and currently NPF is in the possession of that land as well.

Accountability judge Malik while acquitting Khan and other accused observed that the prosecution had failed to prove charges against the accused.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2019