PESHAWAR, June 8: The National Accountability Bureau has filed separate applications before the accountability courts for attachment of properties of former NWFP minister for housing and physical planning, Habibullah Kundi, a land acquisition collector, Ayub Shah and three others.

The investigation officer in the Ring Road land acquisition reference filed five applications against the five individuals, stating that they had been absconding and had been already declared proclaimed offenders by the accountability courts under section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The investigation officer stated that their properties should be attached under section 88 of the CrPC. The five accused — Habibullah Kundi, Ayub Shah and three brothers of former senator Haji Gul Sher namely Juma Sher, Jam Sher and Khatam Gul — were also sentenced in absentia to three years rigorous imprisonment each under section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance, 1999.

The application against Mr Kundi was submitted before the accountability court of Judge Miftauddin Khan, two applications against Ayub Shah and Juma Sher were filed in the court of Said Maroof Khan, whereas against Jam Sher and Khatam Gul applications were filed in the courts of Syed Yahya Zahid Gillani and Attaullah Khan respectively.

Arrest warrants against the five absconding accused were issued by the court on April 19, 2001, whereas they were sentenced in absentia on June 14, 2001.

In the Ring Road land acquisition reference five accused — former NWFP chief minister Aftab Sherpao, Haji Gul Sher, a former tehsildar, Mosam Khan and two patwaris, Nisar Muhammad and Dilawar Khan — have been facing trial.

The accused are charged of inflicting a loss of Rs310 million to the exchequer by dishonestly fixing compensation of land situated in Mahal Lala Ahmad and village Saloo, Tehsil Peshawar at exorbitant rates.

Their alleged act is a crime under section 9 of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999, which is punishable under section 10 of the said act.