LAHORE April 9: Anti-corruption judge Faiz Talib on Friday acquitted former chief minister Manzoor Wattoo and seven others of charges in four references due to lack of evidence.

The court observed in its judgement the prosecution had failed to prove its case against the accused.

In three cases, Manzoor Wattoo, his relative former Okara Zila Council chairman Ahmad Shuja, ex-deputy secretary to Punjab Assembly Mazhar Wattoo, ex-assistant secretary Qamaruz Zaman, Mohammad Amin, Mohammad Iqbal and Naseem Rehmat were charged with misappropriating Rs5.5 million of Baitul Maal funds. In another case, Wattoo and his son Muazzam were charged with stealing a video camera from CM's House. -PPI