KARACHI, Aug 6: An accountability court reserved on Friday order on the acquittal plea of a former deputy director of the Federal Investigation Agency, in a case of amassing wealth and assets through illegal and corrupt means.

Judge Qaiser Iqbal of the AC-1, who is also the administrative judge of all ACs in Karachi, fixed Aug 11 for pronouncement of order after hearing final arguments from the defence counsel, Ms Ismat Mehdi, and special public prosecutor Syed Nadeem Hussain Shah.

The defence counsel prayed the court to acquit the accused as the authorization of investigation was granted by an unauthorized person. She contended that the reference against her client was filed by the investigation officer, while it must have been filed by the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau under the law.

The defence counsel also called in question the jurisdiction of the trial court. She argued that the court had no jurisdiction to try the accused, as the reference against them was not made by the NAB chairman.

Objecting to the contentions of the defence counsel, the special public prosecutor submitted to the court that the case was investigated by the officials of the FIA on the directives of the NAB authorities.

He contended that a letter of authorization was issued on Nov 25, 1999, by the staff officer of the NAB, Islamabad. The defence counsel submitted that on the basis of authorization letter, the FIA director-general issued directives to FIA director in Karachi to have investigation conducted by an FIA investigator.

Later, he said, Assistant Director Haji Abdul Qadeer conducted the investigation. He said the outcome of the investigation and relevant material was placed before the NAB chairman, who duly signed the reference on March 24, 2000.

Former FIA deputy director Chaudhry Mohammed Sharif, along with two co-accused, was earlier convicted and sentenced to a 14-year term by the then judge of AC-1, Mr Qamaruddin Bohra.