PESHAWAR, March 23: An accountability court here on Friday recorded evidence of three prosecution witnesses in a reference against former NWFP chief minister Aftab Sherpao about illegal allotment of a plot in Hayatabad Township.

The court, presided over by Said Maroof Khan, fixed April 4 for next hearing and summoned three witnesses for that date.

Those who recorded their evidence included a section officer of Services Department Alamgir Khan, a deputy director of Peshawar Development Authority Mohammad Arif and a senior clerk of PDA Saeedur Rehman.

In the instant reference, former secretary of Housing and Physical Planning Department Jawed Alam Khanzada was the prime accused, whereas Aftab Sherpao and former director general of PDA, Syed Zahir Shah were co-accused. As Mr Sherpao was absconding at that time, only Mr Khanzada and Mr Shah were tried by the accountability court.

After the plea-bargain of Mr Khanzada was accepted by the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau in different cases he was released by the trial court, whereas Mr Shah was fined.

During proceedings in the accountability court, the local police had cordoned off all the routes leading to the court and did not allow mediamen to cover the court’s proceedings. The police also did not allow party activists to meet Mr Sherpao.