LAHORE, June 15: An accountability court sentenced on Tuesday the former deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Haji Nawaz Khokhar, to three-year rigorous imprisonment and fine for not depositing commutation fee in time.

Announcing the decision in a reference, Judge Karamat Ali Sheikh also slapped on the PPP leader a fine of Rs1,896,000, the amount of the commutation fee which he delayed in remitting to the government treasury after securing 150 acres of land around Islamabad transferred in his name in 1980s.

The commutation fee for the transfer of 150 acres of land in the suburbs of Islamabad in the name of Haji Nawaz Khokhar was deposited after the reference against him on this charge was sent for trial.

The former NA deputy speaker was also disqualified by the court to contest and hold a representative public office for a period of 10 years. Five other accused persons, including three tehsildars and a Qanoongo, were acquitted in the charge of abetting in the commission of the offence.

Mr Khokhar was, however, discharged in two other charges as framed in a reference sent in December 1996 offences that he got in possession illegally the land of Shamlat deh and showed another 67 kanals of land as gift though it was purchased.

Police arrested the PPP leader from the courtroom after the decision. He was later sent to Kot Lakhpat Jail. The reference was made in December 1997 and charges against him were framed the following year.

This was one of the earliest references made out when the concept of accountability of political leaders was introduced for the first time and Justice (retired) Ghulam Mujaddid Mirza was appointed as the chairperson of the Ehtasab Cell.

The reference was made under the repealed Ehtasab Ordinance. The law at that time did not provide for the provision of bail. This provision was incorporated through an amendment in the law.