Court acquits accused in Lepark case

NAB decides to challenge acquittals

LAHORE: An accountability court on Wednesday released Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hafiz Muhammad Nauman and other accused in the Lahore Parking Company (Lepark) corruption case.

The PML-N leader and others were accused of embezzling over Rs80 million.

Speaking to the media, he said he welcomed the verdict although he and his family had gone through an ordeal.

The court issued a nine-page verdict that read, “it is concluded that no offence of misuse of authority, corruption and corrupt practices as envisaged u/s 9(a)(vi) of NAO 1999, for which accused are charge-sheeted, is made out against the accused persons facing trial and there is absolutely no probability of conviction of the accused persons”.

It said accepted the applications filed by the accused. “Accused 1. Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman 2.Taseer Ahmad, 3. Usman Qayyum are acquitted of the charge, u/s 265-K CrPC. The accused present on bail are discharged from their bonds and their sureties are also relieved accordingly”.

Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has reportedly decided to challenge the acquittal of the accused who got relief under a recent amendment to the NAB Ordinance. The prosecution wing of NAB is preparing to file appeals against the acquittal of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, officials involved in Trust Investment Bank Case, Hafiz Nauman and others, Liaquat Durrani and others in Cooperative Bank case.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2020.