PESHAWAR, Feb 16: Taking exception to non-provision of record in a reference against former chief minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, an accountability court on Saturday directed the prosecution to produce it on the next date positively.
The court, presided over by Said Maroof Khan, fixed 26th for the next hearing. It had summoned four witnesses in the reference pertaining to the Ring Road land scam. However, they could not be examined as the record was not available.
Another court will take up for hearing a reference on Monday against Mr Sherpao about illegal appointments in the education department.
Meanwhile, Mr Sherpao has said that there will be far-reaching consequences of Gen Pervaiz Musharraf’s visit to the United States.
Talking to newsmen on the premises of the court, he said the people who had been terming the visit unsuccessful were saying so because they had attached a lot of hopes to that. Although the visit was not so successful in terms of financial assistance, it would help improve ties between the two countries, he added.
The former chief minister said that although the US government had promised to write off loans that, too, was made conditional to the restoration of democracy, curbing terrorism, etc. “The government has already adopted various measures for curbing terrorism and the only thing required now is to hold election in October as has been committed by the government,” he added.
DEPLOYMENT criticiZed: The PPP (Sherpao group) has expressed surprise over the deployment of police contingents around the accountability court when former chief minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao is brought to the court.
In a statement, the party spokesman said it was beyond comprehension to deploy the whole police force of the provincial metropolis to block the entry of people into court premises.
The spokesman criticized the police officials for misbehaving with lawyers and journalists, and said the action was a hurdle in their professional obligations. He said it negated the tall claims of the government about the rule of law and freedom of press.
Besides, speaking to party workers outside the accountability court, a main leader of the party, Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao said that people and party were united under the leadership of Aftab Sherpao.
He said that Aftab Sherpao had won his case in public court and he would soon return victorious in the court of law.
He stressed the need for bringing harmony in the country and fostering consensus over vital national issues. He believed that disunity and growing political crisis would badly harm the masses.
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