KARACHI, March 5: The accountability court No. 2, headed by Judge Riaz Ahmed Phulpoto, adjourned hearing in a corruption reference against a former excise and taxation officer after recording the statements of two prosecution witnesses.

The reference (No. 31/2001) against Agha Abbas Wazir pertained to the evasion of excise duty, amounting to over Rs19.2 million. The manager of the Standard Wine Shop, Abdul Hameed, is co-accused in the case.

The judge fixed March 12 for the next hearing after the statements of Mohammed Shoaib Siddiqui and Syed Shabbir Hussain Shah, both excise and taxation officers were recorded.

ETO Agha Abbas Wazir was arrested on Feb 13, last by the NAB officials for his alleged involvement in evasion of excise duty of millions of rupees.