An accountability court on Wednesday acquitted ten suspects in a case involving illegal investment, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman Asif Hashmi.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a reference against Asif Hashmi and others for allegedly causing a large loss to the national exchequer through illegal investments. They were also accused of abusing their positions of power.
Judge Asad Ali of Accountability Court No. 1 delivered the verdict, acquitting the defendants in the case, under the new amended ordinance.
Final arguments were made by NAB Prosecutor Harris Qureshi. The court postponed a decision on a new reference on plot allotment until May 18.
It’s worth noting that Asif Hashmi was brought to the accountability court from prison. In the NAB cases, he is out on bail; in the Federal Investigation Agency cases, he is under arrest (FIA).
