Court defers Chiniot mines case indictment

LAHORE:

An accountability court on Friday adjourned hearing of the Chiniot mines case till March 2.

During the proceedings before Accountability Court Judge Sajid Ali, Punjab Minister Sibtain Khan and other accused got their attendance marked, while a counsel submitted applications of two co-accused for exemption from personal appearance.

The judge allowed the applications and adjourned further hearing till March 2.

The court had earlier fixed February 18 for the indictment of the accused.

However, due to the absence of the two co-accused, the indictment was deferred.

Read: Former provincial minister granted bail in Chiniot mining case

Besides Sibtain Khan, Salman Ghani, Muhammad Aslam, Abdul Sattar Mian and Imtiaz Ahmad Cheema are accused in the reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau. The bureau had alleged that Sibtain Khan exceeded his powers and awarded a contract to a firm of his choice in 2007 when he was minister for mines and minerals.

It alleged that the company that was given the contract had a paid-up capital of Rs2.5 million only and it lacked experience required for the project.

NAB arrested Sibtain Khan on June 14, 2019 and he obtained bail from the Lahore High Court on September 19, 2019.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2022.