KARACHI: An accountability court on Tuesday heard two corruption references against former petroleum minister and Pakistan People’s Party’s leader Dr Asim Hussain and others. Dr Asim did not appear before the court today. Dr Asim counsel submitted application in the court for one time exemption from personal appearance in the court which was approved by the court. Co-aacused Zubair Siddiqui and former Secretary Petroleum Ejaz Chaudhry also did not also appear in the court and their counsel also moved application for exemption from appearance. The court allowed the plea for one time exemption. The court is hearing two references of Rs 420 billion rupees corruption and Rs17bn filed by National Accountability Bureau against Dr Asim and other accused. Dr Asim Hussain, Athar Hussain, Muhammad Safdar, Khalid Rehman, Zohair Siddiqui, Shaoib Warsi, Basharat Mirza, Malik Usman and others are being tried in the JJVL reference pertaining to charges of corruption of around Rs17b. In another reference, Dr Asim and others are alleged to have committed corruption of more than Rs 462 billion. Published in Daily Times, August 23rd 2017.