ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad accountability court on Monday scrapped a reference filed against former ambassador to Indonesia retired Lt Gen Mustafa Husain Anwar for selling the chancery building without mandatory approval.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir quashed the reference since Anwar, the sole accused, died in August.

According to the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) reference submitted to the registrar’s office, Anwar allegedly sold the building illegally and cost the national exchequer $1.3 million.

The reference said that he had issued an advertisement for the sale of the building with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He was accused of misusing his powers under section 9(A)6 of the National Accountability Ordinance.

NAB alleged that Anwar began the process of selling the building immediately after his appointment in Jakarta, and kept the foreign affairs ministry in the dark about his plans.

Once the sale process had started, he sent the proposal to the ministry.

The reference added that the ministry had banned the sale of the building without its approval in several letters.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2020