ISLAMABAD, June 8: Accountability Court-II, Quetta, on Saturday sentenced the former director-general of Balochistan Social Action Programme (SAP) to two-year rigorous imprisonment for corruption and fined the convict Rs5 million.

All assets of Naheed Pervaiz stand forfeited as set-off against the amount of fine. In case of non-payment of the fine, the convict will further serve one-year in jail. Pervaiz has also been debarred from holding any public office or obtaining loan from any state-controlled financial institution for 10 years.

The court also awarded five-year imprisonment to a co-accused, ex-director finance of the SAP, Balochistan, in the case and fined him Rs5 million.

All assets of Ishrat Ali Khan have also been forfeited against the amount of fine. In case of non-payment of fine, he will serve additional three years in jail. Mr Khan also cannot hold any public office or obtain loan from any public sector financial institution for 10 years.

Both the convicts had caused Rs20 million loss to the state exchequer during 1997-98.

EX-CASHIER ARRESTED: Balochistan NAB on Saturday arrested a former cashier of Quetta DC Office when he presented himself before Accountability Court VII in Quetta.

Muhammad Kaleem Bhatti went into hiding on May 9, 2002, after the NAB had issued his arrest warrants. Thus, he hampered the due process of law, since he was facing charges of accumulation of around Rs10 million assets.—NNI