NAB challenges acquittal of ex-PMs

Graft buster says NAB amendment ordinance cannot be applied to prior cases

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), challenging the acquittal of six accused, including two former prime ministers Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, from chairman Ogra appointment reference.

The NAB prosecutor general filed the appeal with the approval of NAB chairman. The appeal stated that former chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Tauqeer Sadiq was appointed on July 22, 2009 in violation of the rules and procedure.

The accountability court had acquitted the accused under the NAB amendment ordinance on March 17. However, the NAB said that the reference was filed before the promulgation of the amendment ordinance, therefore, it could not be applied to the references filed before the amendments.

NAB prayed the court to set aside the decision of the accountability court and restore the reference against the accused. The NAB had also named Sikandar Hayat Maken, Javed Nazir, Shaukat Hayat Durrani and Tauqeer Sadiq as co-accused in the reference.

Separately, Accountability Court-II Judge Muhammad Azam Khan instructed NAB to submit its comments by May 16 on the acquittal plea of former prime minister Gilani in a reference pertaining to illegal award of media campaign.

Gilani and co-accused had challenged the reference under the amendments to the NAB ordinance. The reference had alleged the accused committed corruption in the funds for the advertisement of universal services funds.