PESHAWAR, Oct 15: An accountability court here on Monday convicted in absentia Haji Juma Sher, brother of former senator from FATA, Haji Gul Sher, and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment.

The court, presided over by Syed Yahya Zahid Gillani, convicted the accused, wanted in the Ring Road land scam.

Under the same charge two other brothers of the accused, Haji Jamsher and Haji Khatam Gul, were earlier sentenced in absentia to three years imprisonment on Oct 9. All the three persons have been absconding, which is a crime under section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance and is punishable up to three years imprisonment.

On completion of the investigation, various people were taken into custody including Haji Gul Sher, an ex- tehsildar Mosam Khan and patwaris, Mohammad Nisar and Dilawar Khan. In the present case a former provincial minister for Housing and Physical Planning, Habibullah Kundi and an ex- land acquisition collector, Ayub Shah have also been convicted in absentia and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Up till now the four local accountability courts have decided ten cases under section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance. Among those convicted in absentia are former NWFP chief minister, Aftab Sherpao, former MNA of ANP, Haji Naseemur Rehman and an ex-deputy superintendent of police, Haji Shah Wali.

PTCL: The Pakistan Telecommunication Northern Region-1 has advised its subscribers to pay their bills for Sept till Oct 23 to avoid disconnection of their telephones.