KARACHI, June 28: An accountability court sentenced on Friday a former PPP MNA and Secretary-General of the United Bank Employees Federation, Abdul Aziz Memon, and his wife Farida to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs one million each.

Judge Javed Alam of the accountability court No 4 also ordered that they should undergo an additional two years’ RI each if they failed to pay the fine. They were also disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years, and would not be granted any financial facility for 10 years.

The judge also ordered that properties held in the name of the accused and his wife were disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Therefore, he ordered the forfeiture of two plots at Hawkesbay Town, one plot in KDA Scheme No 1 A, and House No 15/1, 30th street, Phase V Extension, DHA, where the couple were residing.

According to facts, Aziz Memon had began his career as a typist in the early 1970s and became involved in trade union activities of the bank and became secretary-general of the United Bank Employees Federation of Pakistan. In 1993 he had contested election from NA-190, Karachi South, and was elected MNA. As such he was holder of public office as defined under the NAB Ordinance.

During investigations conducted by Ghulam Farooq Memon, assistant director FIA, it was revealed that the accused held movable and immovable properties in his own name and in the name of his wife, which were highly disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The investigations also revealed that he had invested various amounts in government securities in his own name and in the name of his wife.

After completion of investigations, Aziz Memon was arrested on August 23, 1991. A reference was filed before the accountability court No 4 on December 1, 2001, against the accused and his wife.