NBP president, others indicted

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court on Thursday indicted three accused, including President National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Saeed Ahmed, named in the supplementary reference filed against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir hearing corruption reference against Dar for holding assets beyond known sources of income, indicted NBP President Ahmed, Naeem Mehmood and Mansoor Rizvi – two directors of Dar’s companies.

Judge Mohammad Bashir read out the charges, to which the co-accused pleaded not guilty. All three accused were present in the courtroom during the hearing.

The charge-sheet read that absconding accused (Ishaq Dar) obtained illegal pecuniary advantage through aid, abetment and assistance of accused, i.e., Saeed Ahmad, Naeem Mahmood and Syed Mansoor Rizvi.

The counsel for Ahmad told the court that his client had challenged Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) verdict, urging the Supreme Court to reject the supplementary reference.

On this, the judge said that he respects the Supreme Court but no order has come from the apex court in this regard. “Let’s indict the accused in the case. If any direction came from the court, this proceeding will be annulled. Let the case move a little forward,” he said.

Accused Rizvi tendered an unconditional apology to the court over unpleasant situation emerged in the court when his lawyer, Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Javed Akbar Shah, misbehaved with the judge during the previous hearing.

He told the court that Shah is no longer representing him in the case.

The court adjourned the hearing till April 11 and summoned prosecution witnesses Sher Dil Khan, Director National Assembly, and Muhammad Azeem Khan and Abdur Rehman Gondal, bank officials.