Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Tuesday acquitted former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and other accused in the Piraghaib Rental Power reference.
Judge Muhammad Bashir announced his verdict on applications of the former premier and others seeking acquittal in the case.
Other accused whose acquittal pleas were approved included Shaukat Tareen, Ismail Qureshi, Shahid Rafi, Tahir Basharat Cheema, Muhammad Saleem Arif, Chaudhry Abdul Qadreer, and Iqbal Ali Shah.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed the Piraghaib Rental Power reference in 2014, accusing Raja Pervez Ashraf of misusing his powers in his capacity as water and power minister to gain financial benefits in the project.
Last week, the court had acquitted the former prime minister, Tareen as well as all eight other accused nominated in the Sahiwal Rental Power Reference. There had been no loss inflicted on the national exchequer, therefore a reference could not be made against the accused, the judge remarked, announcing the verdict.
National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday has decided to challenge acquittal of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and other accused in Rental Power corruption case.
According to details, the anti-graft watchdog has requested to annul release order of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and other accused as evidence against them is present.Earlier, accountability court, while announcing the verdict, had accepted acquittal plea of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and other suspects in the reference.
