Raja Pervez Ashraf, other accused walks free in GEPCO case

An accountability court on Monday acquitted former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and other accused in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference about illegal recruitment in Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO).

As per details, announcing its reserved verdict, the court acquitted Pervez Ashraf and others from the reference submitted by the bureau.

In a petition for his acquittal, Raja Pervez Ashraf had argued in previous hearing that the NAB had already denied irregularities in recruitment. He also contended that the court have no jurisdiction to hear the case after recent amendment in the NAB Ordinance.

Meanwhile, the investigation officer of the bureau hearing pleaded to the court for more time to submit reply of the NAB over the plea.

Earlier, the accountability court has indicted PPP leader and seven others in a case related to illegal recruitments in the GEPCO. Accountability court judge Najamul Hassan heard the case, during which the court indicted the former prime minister and eight others.

He denied charges after which the court summoned witnesses in the next hearing. The former prime minister and many others are facing charges of illegal appointments in Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO).

It is pertinent to mention here that the NAB had filed the reference against Pervez Ashraf in year 2016 and the former premier and seven other accused were nominated by the NAB in a case.