Daily Times

An accountability court on Wednesday directly indicted former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in Reshma Power Generation Private Limited and Gulf Rental Power Private Limited scandals.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader appeared before the court during which a charged sheet was handed over to him. The accused denied all the allegations.

The court summoned the ex-PM in next hearing and adjourned the proceedings till August 7.

Earlier on June 3, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court had indicted Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and other accused persons in the Rental Power Plants (RPPs) scam.

The court had framed charges against Ashraf on three RPPs including Reshma Power Generation Private Limited, Gulf Rental Power Private Limited and Young Gen Power Limited.

The RPPs case is about private power companies that faced allegations of receiving more than Rs 22 billion mobilisation advance from the government to commission the projects, but failed to set up the plants. A few of them had set up the plants, but only after an inordinate delay.

The ex-PM is accused of misusing his authority during his tenure as power minister for approval of increasing down payment to the rental power companies from 7 to 14 per cent, amounting to about Rs 22 billion.

Separately, an accountability court recorded statement of the investigation officer in assets reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

Investigation officer of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Nadir Abbas, recorded his statement in the court. Accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir was hearing the case

Co-accused Saeed Ahmed, Naeem Mehmood and Mansoor Rizvi were also present during the case hearing.

The statement of NAB investigation officer could not be completed in the hearing today. The court summoned Nadir Abbas in the next hearing to complete his witness account. The court adjourned the hearing till July 10.

Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir had adjourned the previous hearing of the case due to request of the counsel of an accused Saeed Ahmed for one-day exemption from the case hearing.

Earlier in the case hearing head of joint investigation team (JIT) in Panama Leaks probe Wajid Zia had recorded his statement as the prosecution witness. He was later cross-examined by the defence counsels.

A reference was filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Ishaq Dar following the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.

It may be mentioned here that the court has declared Ishaq Dar as a proclaimed offender due to his continuous absence from hearing of the case.