Karachi: An Accountability Court (AC) adjourned hearing till January 25 on acquittal plea of co-accused in Nooriabad Power Project reference against Sindh Chief Minister  Syed Murad Ali Shah and others. AC-Judge Muhammad Bashir continued hearing arguments of defence lawyer on acquittal plea. Ccourt also granted one-time exemption from appearance to Murad Ali Shah on request of his lawyer.

During hearing, counsel for co-accused Khursheed Jamali and Sultan Farooqi gave arguments against acquittal plea of their clients. Counsel for accused Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed said that Nooriabad project was introduced with public-private partnership. He said PPRA rules were followed in award of project. NAB had not leveled allegations on any public office holder for receiving financial benefit, he said, adding that case didn't fall in jurisdiction of NAB when there was approval of Cabinet.

Counsels for accused Sohail Rajput, Agha Wasif Abbas, Shahnawaz Farhan and Nisar Ahmed Sheikh also completed their arguments against reference.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 21 2023

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