KARACHI, Dec 15: The hearing of a case against former provincial minister Imtiaz Sheikh and his bother, Maqbool Sheikh, could not be held as the judge, Gul Munir Shah, was on leave. However, the Jan 24 has been fixed for the next hearing.

In the previous hearing, on Nov 26, the judge had sent a reference to the Sindh High Court requesting the court’s instructions to the two accused to appear personally before him on Dec 15. They have appeared before the judge only twice over the last three years. The high court has granted them bail in the case.

The case pertains to the transfer and allotment of about 1,700 acres of land in Korangi areas allegedly by the accused to certain private parties at throwaway prices. They, along with 40 others, have been charged under sections 161, 420, 468 and 471/34 PPC.

Some accused in the case have been granted bail whereas the others declared absconders.