LAHORE, Oct 12: A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday disposed of an appeal filed by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto challenging her conviction in absentia in SGS-Cotecna and ARY Gold and illegal assets references by an accountability court in Rawalpindi.

Justice M. Bilal Khan and Justice Tariq Shamim of the LHC observed that the appellant’s grievance stood redressed after the promulgation of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). “Since this appeal has borne fruit, no further discourse on this issue is required,” the bench observed.

The counsel for Benazir Bhutto had asked the court to decide their case in accordance with relevant law and the constitution instead of the NRO.

The counsel had said the sentence, handed down in absentia was in violation of Article 10 of the Constitution and against fundamental rights. Besides, the Supreme Court had decided that no one could be convicted in absentia.