RAWALPINDI: Judge Mian Altaf Hussain Mahar of Accountability Court
No 2 has acquitted 5 accused persons allegedly involved in ARY Gold
Reference.
These accused persons included Haji Abdul Razzaq
Yaqoob, Directors ARY, Haji Jan Muhammad and Haji Abdul Rauf, former
commerce secretary Suleman Farooqui and former secretary Brig (Retd)
Aslam Hayat Qureshi.
2 accused including former finance
secretary, Javed Tallat and foreign director Jean Shegal were declared
proclaimed offenders due to their failure to appear in the court and
their perpetual arrest warrants were issued.
The court
maintained that case against them stands abolished due to death of
Benazir Bhutto. President Asif Ali Zardari who is also included in this
reference enjoys immunity under the constitution.
It may be recalled that one Shahnaz an accused in this case has already been exonerated by the court.
Names
of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari were also included in the case.
NAB had alleged in the reference that trader license for import of gold
and silver was awarded to ARY Gold against rules and regulations during
Benazir Bhutto regime. Due to this irregularity government had to
suffer loss. Online
