PESHAWAR, Feb 2: An accountability court here on Saturday indicted former NWFP chief minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao on charges of giving approval for illegal appointments in education department during his tenure as chief minister.

Mr Sherpao pleaded not guilty to the charge and decided to stand trial. The court, presided over by Attaullah Khan, fixed Feb 11 for the next hearing and summoned prosecution witnesses.

Former provincial minister Habibur Rehman Tanoli was the main accused in the reference. During self-exile of Mr Sherpao, Mr Tanoli was convicted in the reference by the accountability court and sentenced to four years imprisonment. However, the Peshawar High Court set aside that judgment and acquitted Mr Tanoli.

With the return of Mr Sherpao, a supplementary reference was filed before the accountability court by the National Accountability Bureau. Advocate Zaffar Abbas Zaidi appeared for the defendant before the court.

Another accountability court, presided over by Said Maroof Khan, handed over to Mr Sherpao a copy of a supplementary reference filed against him in the famous Ring Road land acquisition scandal.

The court fixed Feb 11 for framing of charges in that case. In that case, former Senator from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Haji Gulsher is the prime accused. Former NWFP Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Habibullah Kundi, some government officials and brothers of Haji Gulsher have also been charged in this case.

Meanwhile, Mr Sherpao said on Saturday that instead of making new judicial experiences for curbing terrorism, the government should try to improve the existing system.

Talking to the newsmen in the accountability court, he said that in the light of the past experience, the government should have established speedy courts, and set a time-frame for deciding a case of terrorism. The lawyers, he said, should also not seek unnecessary adjournments, which would also help in early disposal of cases.

The local police on Friday barred local journalists from entering the premises housing the accountability courts. ASP Akber Khan and DSP Rafique misbehaved with journalists.

The officials claimed that they had strict orders from the NAB not to allow any of the newsmen to cover the proceedings in Sherpao case.