Arguments sought on Fawad Hassan’s acquittal plea

LAHORE:An accountability court on Thursday sought arguments from parties on acquittal application filed by Fawad Hassan Fawad, former principal secretary to prime minister, in assets beyond means case.

The court directed the counsel to appear on next date of hearing, June 18, and advance arguments on the acquittal application. Accountability Court Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan conducted the case proceedings wherein Fawad Hassan Fawad also appeared.

Fawad Hassan Fawad had filed the acquittal application under Section 265-K of Criminal Procedure Code, stating that the National Accountability Bureau had failed to produce any evidence against him in the case.

The bureau had alleged that the former principal secretary had accumulated assets beyond his sources of income. It was alleged that he owned assets worth Rs 5 billion besides multiple benami accounts. It is pertinent to mention here that a Lahore High Court division bench had granted post-arrest bail to Fawad Hassan Fawad in the case.

adjourned: An accountability court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of illegal appointments case against former Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran and others till April 15.

The court directed all the accused to ensure their presence on the next date of hearing. Accountability Court Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan conducted the case proceedings. Dr Mujahid Kamran and other accused did not appear before the court due to coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Kamran is accused of illegal recruitment to the university and for giving away scholarships to students who were not eligible for that. Dr Kamran remained the PU VC from January 2008 to December 2016.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Lahore High Court had granted bail to Dr Mujahid Kamran and others in the case.

Our correspondent adds: An additional district and sessions court on Thursday summoned the prosecution witnesses in a case against former SSP Junaid Arshad, accused of uploading certain pictures of his former wife.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Misbah Khan has summoned the witnesses to record their statements by April 22.

According to the case details, Federal Investigation Agency's Cybercrime Wing had arrested Junaid Arshad on charges of uploading obscene images of his former wife. According to FIA, the accused was an absconder in a case filed against him in 2017.

Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had ordered the then Secretary Interior to arrest the police officer in cybercrime and two other cases. Junaid at that time was serving as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) deputy inspector general (DIG).

The police officer allegedly had uploaded the pictures of his ex-wife, Ayesha Subhani, on social media. His name was also put on the Exit Control List on the directions of the former top judge.