Court delays verdict on acquittal plea of Babar Awan in Nandipur case

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – An accountability court has delayed the verdict of Nandipur Power Project case on the acquittal plea of former law minister Dr Babar Awan on Wednesday. Earlier, the NAB court has to announce the verdict of Nandipur Power Project case. Accountability court judge Arshad Malik heard the case. During the hearing, Judge Arshad Malik remarked that surely the delay has been proved in the Nandipur Power Project. The justice also said that but time is required to check the records and verify that the former law minister is responsible for this delay or not. Earlier on Monday, the court had reserved the verdict of Nandipur Power Project case. Judge Arshad Malik had made his decision after hearing arguments of Dr Babar Awan, the National Accountability Bureau prosecutor and former prime minister Raja Parvez Ashraf’s counsel. During hearing, Dr Awan informed the court that he was not the law minister when two summaries had been sent to the Ministry of Law. “The new law minister did not even grant an approval after I left. Approvals are the law secretary’s responsibility and not the minister’s.” He accepted that the Nandipur project was not completed but alleged that a corruption reference was initiated against him selectively. Relaying his arguments to the court, the NAB prosecutor informed that the Rehmat Hussain Jafri commission’s report is present. “The law minister did issue one form that was required. The entire blame is on the incompetency level of the law ministry during Dr Awan’s tenure.” Upon hearing this, Judge Malik had remarked that this is such a small issue. Presenting his arguments before the court, the counsel for former PM Ashraf had said, “Before a charge sheet is filed, all the convicts are supposed to provide all the relevant documents.” His lawyer further added that he had wanted to present some reports to the court before a decision pertaining to the case is made. Hearing had been adjourned till February 20 after Judge Malik reserved the verdict.