The Accountability Court Judge Azam Khan while hearing the case asked the counsel of Ashraf to submit his objections in writing against indictment of the accused as per amended National Accountability Ordinance 2019. During the hearing, Asharif's counsel raised objection to indictment of his client under amended NAO 2019. "Following new amended NAO ordinance 2019, his client could not be indicted," he said.

NAB Prosecutor Usman Mirza objected to this and told the court that Section 10 of NAB ordinance has not been amended. As many as 12 different references with respect to RPP are pending before different accountability courts, he said. The judge observed that NAB's stance will be heard after the defense counsel submits his objections. The court after hearing arguments of both the parties adjourned hearing of the case till January 23.

PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf is accused of misusing his authority during his tenure as federal minister for water and power to get approval from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for an increase in the down payment to the rental power companies from 7 to 14 percent, amounting to about Rs 22 billion.

The Bureau is investigating all 12 RPPs and has filed references in cases including Turkish ship-mounted power plant (Karkey), Piranghaib power plant, Multan, Sahiwal power plant, Guddu power plant in Sindh, Naudero-I power plant in Sindh, Naudero-II power plant in Sindh, Reshma Power Generation in Raiwind, Young Gen Power Ltd, Bhikki, Gulf Rental Power Pvt Ltd and 150MW Sharaqpur RPP.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020