Three MPAs of Sindh PPP jailed for graft

The three MPAs of Sindh Assembly include Nawaz Ali Shah, a former Sindh minister, Khadim Ali Shah and Imtiaz Ali Shah. They have been sentenced to five, four and three years in jail respectively besides fines.

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By Afzal Khan

Published: Fri 11 Sep 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 11 Sep 2015, 9:39 AM

Islamabad: An accountability court in Karachi on Thursday sentenced three legislators belonging to the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to various jail terms on charges of corruption.
The three MPAs of Sindh Assembly include Nawaz Ali Shah, a former Sindh minister, Khadim Ali Shah and Imtiaz Ali Shah. They have been sentenced to five, four and three years in jail respectively besides fines.
Meanwhile, a former deputy chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Hassan Wasim Afzal, has told an accountability court here that the original record in the SGS-Cotecna reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari he provided to the then Ehtesab bench in 1998 had gone missing.
The accountability court was hearing two acquittal applications of Zardari in which his counsel Farooq H. Naek argued before the court that since original record in these corruption references did not exist, his client might be absolved of the charges.
To a question whether he still holds the record, Wasim Afzal said he could not keep the record after his retirement, adding the record should either be with the Lahore High Court or the accountability court. After the court proceedings, Wasim Afzal told the media that the record had also an agreement signed between Zardari and a shipping agent. "Unfortunately, the original record was not produced before the court today. I told the court that in the absence of original record my testimony would be of no use," Wasim Afzal said.
After court proceedings, Farooq H. Naek told the media that the Afzal's statement was a lie as original record in the corruption references did not exist. All cases against Zardari were politically motivated. The court then adjourned the case until September 22.
SGS and Cotecna reference pertains to the award of pre-shipment inspection contracts in which the accused had allegedly received six per cent kickbacks.
news@khaleejtimes.com

Afzal Khan

Published: Fri 11 Sep 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 11 Sep 2015, 9:39 AM

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