Acquittal pleas of co-accused in cases against ex-PMs rejected

Court orders all accused to ensure their attendance on Dec 22 for indictment

An accountability court on Friday dismissed the acquittal pleas of the co-accused in separate references against former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani pertaining to award of a media campaign contract to a private firm and former premier Shaukat Aziz in an illegal appointment case.

The court ordered all accused to ensure their attendances on the next date of hearing for the indictment process.

AC-II Judge Muhammad Azam Khan was hearing references against former prime ministers and the co-accused.

During the hearing, the court announced the reserved judgment in both the separate references.

The co-accused Liaqat Jatoi, Dr Basharat Hassan Bashir, Ghulam Nabi, Ismail Qureshi and Yousuf Memon had filed acquittal pleas in the accountability court in the reference against Aziz, which were turned down.

The court Instructed all the accused to ensure their attendance on the next hearing and adjourned the case till December 22.

It may be mentioned here that the court has already declared Aziz an absconder due to continuous absence from the proceedings.

Meanwhile, the same court also rejected the acquittal pleas of accused in a reference against Gilani pertaining to misuse of powers.

The court announced the decision on acquittal pleas of the co-accused, including Muhammad Saleem, Farooq Awan, Syed Hassan Shako and Riaz Asher Siddiqui. APP