SAHIWAL: The brother of Bushra Bibi, wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, on Wednesday skipped the hearing in a case of alleged involvement in occupying state land in Depalpur at the Anti-Corruption Establishment Regional Office.

Ahmed Mujtaba and 18 others did not appear to attend the hearing.

Pakpattan Circle Officer Rana Nadeem Iqbal told Dawn the ACE had fixed July 13 as the next date of hearing.

Sources said Mujtaba’s lawyers said he was not well. The suspects had been given a chance to appear on 13th after which ex-parte proceedings could be initiated against them, said sources.

They said Mujtaba and others were accused of illegally leasing out government land earmarked for a market and later seizing it through the market committee chairman, causing Rs200 million loss to the national exchequer.

ACE claims the shops were illegally built in Deepalpur city by occupying state land.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2022