LAHORE, March 2: Hearing a petition of the Election Commission for recovery of perks and privileges from parliamentarians disqualified for being dual nationals, the district and sessions judge on Saturday framed charges on former MPA Rana Asif and initiated the process to declare another disqualified MPA Amina Buttar a “court absconder”.

Several notices and arrest warrants were issued against Ms Buttar, but she did not appear before the court.

On her behalf, a lawyer had on previous hearing told the court that she was not in Pakistan and was not aware of the proceedings against her.

The lawyer had tried to seek time from the court, but D&SJ Nazir Ahmad Gajana turned down the request observing that personal appearance was mandatory in criminal nature proceedings.

The judge put off the matter of Rana Asif till March 5 after framing charges against him and sought witnesses from the prosecution side.

The ECP pleaded that these parliamentarians defrauded the people of Pakistan and also deceived the Election Commission by concealing their pre-election disqualification on account of being dual nationals. It said the perks and privileges enjoyed by these parliamentarians should be recovered.