KARACHI, Nov 15: Parkash Lal Ambwani, judge, Accountability Court at Karachi, on Tuesday dismissed an application filed on behalf of the former Prime Minister, Ms Benazir Bhutto, seeking exemption from appearing before the court on the day when judgment in a corruption case, commonly known as PIA reference, would be announced.

The court, disallowing the application, fixed Nov 30 for pronouncement of the judgment holding that the judgment could be announced even in the absence of some of the accused.

The case pertains to 1,393 alleged illegal transfers, postings abroad in PIAC during her second tenure as Pakistani premier.

The other co-accused are Naheed Khan, her political secretary, AVM (Retd) Umar Farooq, MD PIA at the time of commission of alleged offences, Abdul Qadir Jamote and others.

Abdul Hafeez Lakho represented Ms Bhutto while barrister Azizullah Kshaikh appeared for accused Jamote.

convicted: Hasan Feroz, Judge, Accountability Court (ACC-II) at Karachi, on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Akbar Ali Abbasi, former Manager, SME Bank, Shikarpur-Larkana branch, to a seven year term and also fined him for Rs8.8 million in a corruption and proxy loan case.

In case of default, the convict was ordered to undergo imprisonment for 18 months more.

The court in its judgement announced here this evening that the accused has committed acts of corruption and corrupt practices through fake and proxy loans for his personal benefit and has also prepared forged cross cheques. Interestingly, the accused has also repaid and adjusted some of the fake loans by making certain payments and has transacted in his personal accounts huge amounts.

The court also held him guilty of misappropriating the funds of the bank entrusted to him as Manager SME.—APP