Rental power projects: Move to indict Ashraf deferred till Dec 14
Former prime minister to be charged in Naudero-II case with other co-accused.
Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
An accountability court on Monday deferred the indictment of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the rental power project (RPP) case.
The indictment was deferred till December 14 after Farooq H Naek, counsel for Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, informed the court that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had not provided a copy of the reference to the defence.
Arguing his client’s case, who was present in court during the hearing, Naek said that charges could not be brought against Ashraf without the presence of the other co-accused. He pointed out that it was essential that all the accused should appear before the court for a formal indictment.
The bureau had earlier filed a 263-page reference against Ashraf and nine other accused in the RPPs scandal. In the original reference, the NAB’s executive board had decided to include the names of two alleged principal beneficiaries in the case — energy tycoon Iqbal Z Ahmed and M N Baig — both of whom had obtained prior restraining orders from the Lahore High Court and were not included in the supplementary reference.
Following the indictment deferral, the court directed NAB’s Additional Deputy Prosecutor General Chaudhry Riaz to provide a copy of the reference, along with other documents related to the case and adjourned the hearing till December 14.
The court had summoned the PPP leader for the first time on November 19, after NAB filed an interim reference against him for giving undue favours to contractors in the 50 megawatt Naudero-II RPP while he was the minister for water and power.
Based in Naudero, the RPP contract was awarded on March 4, 2010, in alleged violation of PPRA rules. Ashraf, who was then serving as the federal minister in charge, approved the project, which NAB investigations subsequently determined to be “unfeasible and unsolicited”.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2013.
An accountability court on Monday deferred the indictment of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the rental power project (RPP) case.
The indictment was deferred till December 14 after Farooq H Naek, counsel for Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, informed the court that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had not provided a copy of the reference to the defence.
Arguing his client’s case, who was present in court during the hearing, Naek said that charges could not be brought against Ashraf without the presence of the other co-accused. He pointed out that it was essential that all the accused should appear before the court for a formal indictment.
The bureau had earlier filed a 263-page reference against Ashraf and nine other accused in the RPPs scandal. In the original reference, the NAB’s executive board had decided to include the names of two alleged principal beneficiaries in the case — energy tycoon Iqbal Z Ahmed and M N Baig — both of whom had obtained prior restraining orders from the Lahore High Court and were not included in the supplementary reference.
Following the indictment deferral, the court directed NAB’s Additional Deputy Prosecutor General Chaudhry Riaz to provide a copy of the reference, along with other documents related to the case and adjourned the hearing till December 14.
The court had summoned the PPP leader for the first time on November 19, after NAB filed an interim reference against him for giving undue favours to contractors in the 50 megawatt Naudero-II RPP while he was the minister for water and power.
Based in Naudero, the RPP contract was awarded on March 4, 2010, in alleged violation of PPRA rules. Ashraf, who was then serving as the federal minister in charge, approved the project, which NAB investigations subsequently determined to be “unfeasible and unsolicited”.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2013.