BISP reference: AC summons all accused among Farzana Raja on Sep 17

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The accountability court (AC) summoned Farzana Raja including all accused on September 17, in Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) corruption reference on Tuesday. BISP corruption reference was heard by AC Judge Muhammad Bashir. The former BISP chairperson Farzana Raja skipped today’s hearing owing to her medical condition. “My client is currently in US and unable to appear before court due to her health issues”, Raja’s lawyer said before the court. To this, the court sought Farzana Raja's medical report and the judge remarked the court will decided if about later after seeing her medical reports. Further hearing of the case has been adjourned till September 17. Farzana Raja and other accused have been directed to ensure their appearance before court in next hearing. NAB Rawalpindi bureau filed the reference against Farzana Raja and other accused. Raja remained chairperson of the BISP from year 2008 to 2013 during the tenure of Pakistan People’s Party government. The reference comprised of 32 volumes has been sent to the Registrar Office for scrutiny, in which overall 19 persons have been made party. The Executive Board of NAB had approved the filing of reference against former chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Ms Farzana Raja and others in a meeting in December last year.