PESHAWAR, Jan 3:# An accountability court on Friday started proceedings for declaring a Patwari of revenue department a proclaimed offender.

The court, presided over by Miftauddin Khan, issued proclamation against the accused, Siddique Akber. If he fails to turn up till next hearing on Feb 3, he would be declared a proclaimed offender. He is accused of registering mutation of properties during a ban imposed by the government.

The court has already started similar proceedings against three other Patwaris — Gul Jamal, Purdil and Murad — who have been absconding after the issuance of their arrest warrants by the NAB chairman.

The bureau has arrested five Patwaris on charges of inflicting loss to  the national exchequer by registering property transfer deeds during the ban.

The bureau has claimed that the accused registered hundreds of mutations on July 3 and 4, 1994, while the provincial government had banned it on July 1.