LAHORE, Dec 3: Akbar Ali Bhatti, ex-MNA from Vehari and former owner-cum-editor of an Urdu daily, was convicted by an accountability court here on Monday and sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs11.8 million for wilful default in payment of government dues and misuse of public office.

Announcing the judgment after Iftar, judge Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain also disqualified the former MNA from holding public office and securing loans from banks for 10 years.

He will have to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two more years in the event of non-payment of fine.

According to the prosecution, Mr Akbar Ali Bhatti misused his public office as MNA for acquiring the Palla Pond government land in Maillsi (Vehari) on lease for his company, the Akbar Brothers, but did not pay the requisite dues. Mr Bhatti, however, denied the charges.