ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Corruption cases against three cabinet members are in various trial stages in different accountability courts, the minister in-charge of the prime minister's secretariat told the Senate on Friday.

Corruption references were sent to accountability courts against these ministers soon after the military took over the reins of the country on Oct 12, 1999.

In a written reply to a question tabled by Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the minister said the NAB had prepared a total of 11 references against Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Nazir Ahmed after Oct 12, 1999.

He said one case against the interior minister was under prosecution on charges of wilful default. He said Mr Sherpao had been acquitted in five cases on charges of misuse of authority and corruption while one case against him was under trial in an accountability court.

He said appeals in three different cases against Mr Sherpao were also pending in the higher courts. Similarly, he said, Rana Nazir Ahmed was facing charges of misuse of authority and keeping assets beyond known sources of income and a case against him was under trial in an accountability court.