Nandipur reference: Court to announce verdict on Awan's aquittal plea on May 22

Former law minister had filed a petition seeking acquittal in the reference

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday said the decision on Babar Awan's acquittal in the Nandipur reference will be announced on May 22 after the hearing of the case was adjourned due to the absence of the judge.

Judge Muhammad Arshad heard the reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertaining to the multi-million loss brought to the national exchequer due to a delay in the Nandipur project.

Former law minister Babar Awan had filed a petition seeking acquittal in the reference. The court had fixed May 6 for announcing the decision on the petition.

Ex-PM Ashraf, PTI's Babar Awan indicted in Nandipur reference

In March, an accountability court indicted seven people, including former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and ex-law minister Awan, in the Nandipur Power Project reference filed by NAB.

The Nandipur power project in Punjab commenced during Pakistan Peoples' Party's (PPP) tenure, through which it was claimed that 525 MW of electricity has been generated while different political parties had alleged corruption in the project.  The project was approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on December 27, 2007, at an estimated cost of $329 million.