KARACHI, Jan 11: As many as 13 politicians and 23 bureaucrats were among those convicted by the accountability courts in Karachi since the establishment of the National Accountability Bureau in 1999.
Inquiries showed that the accountability courts decided a total of 46 references and 61 references are still pending with these courts since their establishment in December 1999.
The accountability process showed a declining trend in terms of institution of references and their disposal in 2001 as compared to the year 2000. The NAB sent some 45 references in 2001 as compared to 52 sent in 2000.
Similarly, the four out of five ACs in Karachi decided 18 references in 2001 while they had decided some 23 cases during 2000.
Out of a total of 46 references, the AC-1, headed by Judge Dr. Qamaruddin Bohra, decided 22 references. The court was sent a total 37 cases for trial and 15 are still pending with it.
Judge Rahmat Hussain Jafferi of AC-3, who is also the administrative judge of all ACs, was sent in all 22 cases and he disposed of 10 and the remaining are still pending.
The AC-4, headed by Judge Jawaid Alam, decided 10, of the22 references sent before him for trial. Judge Riaz Ahmed Phulpoto pronounced judgments in three references and 11 other references are pending before him.
Besides the convictions, the ACs also acquitted five accused, including two politicians and an equal number of bureaucrats.
Those convicted by the courts included former chairman of the Pakistan Steel Muhammed Usman Farooqui, former chairman of the Bankers’ Equity Rauf Bux Qadri, two former chairmen of the NDFC, M. B. Abbasi and Chaudhry Munawwar Hussain, former senator, Islamuddin Shaikh, former director-general of the Port Qasim Authority, former chairman of the HBFC Siddiqul Farooq, former provincial land utilization secretary Ramesh M. Udeshi, former general manager of the Pakistan Telecommunication Limited Khushi Muhammed Bhutto, former bureaucrat, Khan Muhammed Mahar, Mian Akhter Paganwala, Mian Munir Ahmed, former deputy director of the FIA, Chaudhry Muhammed Sharif.
Besides, those being tried by the ACs included former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, her father-in-law Hakim Ali Zardari, former Sindh chief minister Syed Ghous Ali Shah, former MNA Abdul Aziz Memon, former captain of national hockey team, Mansoor Ahmed, Rashid Ullah Yaqoob and Muhammed Tahir Siddiqui of the Prudential Bank, former Sindh ministers Maqbool Ahmed Shaikh and Ismail Rahu, former federal commerce minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, former commerce secretary Brig (Retd) Aslam Hiyat and former excise and taxation officer Agha Wazir Abbas.
Meanwhile, a press release said the NAB, Sindh, was working on 255 cases prepared on the basis of concrete evidence involving a number of politicians, members of former national and provincial assemblies, bureaucrats, businessmen and personnel of the armed forces.
It said those convicted in these cases included 41 politicians, 44 bureaucrats and other persons who were awarded punishment of various terms and heavy fines.
The important politicians and bureaucrats who have been awarded punishments include former CM Syed Abdullah Shah against whom the accountability courts gave verdicts in many references.
Among the bureaucrats, the family of former Steel Mill chairman Usman Farooqi deposited Rs39.5 million through pre-bargain and another Rs265.05 million into the government treasury.
According to the RAB, the process of accountability in Sindh was being carried out through utmost transparency.
