ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: The defence closed its evidence on Monday before an accountability court in three corruption references against the former Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman.

Judge Rustum Ali Malik of the accountability court No.I adjourned the hearing for November 2. The prosecution and the defence will commence final arguments on next hearing.

Shafi Sehwani is facing charges of corruption, misuse of authority and acquisition of assets beyond his known source of income and irregular allotment of plots in Islamabad.

Babar Awan advocate, appeared on behalf of the co-accused including Roohi Farzana, Sehwani’s wife, Ms Almas Parveen mother-in-law of the accused and Abdul Rehman, a former Agriculture Research Council (PARC) officer.

He pleaded that Ms Farzana had inherited properties before her marriage with Mr Sehwani and, therefore, properties of wife had no nexus with the service of her husband in the CDA.

While pleading the case of Ms Parveen, the council said that her husband was abroad and she was in possession of ostensible means to acquire and hold properties.

The accused also tendered documents of foreign remittances before the court in her favour and pleaded that relationship with the accused could not bring her within the ambit of the accomplice.

While presenting the case of Abdul Rehman, he stated that neither the PARC had lodged any complaint against the co-accused nor any loss was caused due to him to the national kitty.

The charge stated that Sehwani in collaboration with Abdul Rehman had acquired 5000 square yards industrial plot in sector I-9/1, by misusing his authority and converted into three plots in his own handwriting in violation of building rules and criteria.

According to the report of the investigating officer, annexed with the reference, the value of the building constructed at one of the plots amounted to Rs30 million in 1994 and the beneficiaries had received huge amounts through different rent agreements. But neither the co-accused disclosed the income to the tax authorities or mentioned in the wealth tax statements.