KARACHI: An accountability court on Wednesday adjourned hearing of a Rs320 million corruption reference against Mihaj Qazi and others after National Accountability Bureau sought time to file comments on the accused plea bargain application.
During the course of hearing, Qazi’s counsel took the plea that his client had filed application with Chairman NAB for entering plea bargain with the Bureau. He added that the Bureau had not yet responded his application.
The counsel pleaded the court to give time so that NAB can take a decision on his clients’ plea. NAB prosecutor told the court that the applicant had been forwarded to Chairman NAB and he was yet to take a decision on it. He sought time for submitting comments on the accused plea barging application in the court.
The court adjourned hearing of the case till September 6, 2017.
Minhaj Qazi, a former security in-charge of MQM headquarters Nine Zero is facing charges of encroachment through China-cutting and selling the land to the public after establishing residential schemes. Earlier, the suspect’s counsel had filed an application in the court requesting his client to be allowed to enter into a plea bargain with NAB.
During the last hearing, the Bureau had sought time from the court to submit a reply on a plea bargain filed by a Muttahida Quami Movement activist in Rs 320 million corruption references. The court had been informed that the application was sent to NAB chairman but he was yet to take a decision over the matter.
Qazi was arrested in February last year, initially on charges of terrorism but was also nominated in the triple murder case of then KESC managing director Shahid Hamid, his driver and a security guard – who were shot dead in DHA on July 5, 1997. He was then also named in the Rs 320 million corruption reference.
According to the reference, Qazi in connivance with his associates fraudulently made Rs 320 million through a housing scheme constructed off the Northern Bypass. The project, Areesha City, was built on encroached land. On being indicted in the case, he pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the charges leveled against him.
Published in Daily Times, August 17th 2017.
