Nandipur Power ProjectCourt reserves ruling on Babar Awan’s acquittal plea

ISLAMABAD: An Accountability Court (AC) Monday reserved its judgment on a plea of Dr Babar Awan seeking his acquittal in Nandipur Power Project reference. AC Judge Arshad Malik reserved the decision after NAB prosecutor and PTI leader Dr Baber Awan concluded their arguments in the case.

Earlier, Babar Awan argued that two summaries were sent to Law and Justice Division regarding the project before he assumed charge as law minister. Not any minister had given suchapproval in the past as it was the power of Secretary Law and Justice, he said. He pleaded that his name was not mentioned anywhere in above corruption reference filed by NAB. He said Nandipur Power Project couldn’t be completed so far. However, the NAB prosecutor Zeeshan Masood argued that his department had filed reference against former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Babar Awan and five other persons related to power project scam.

The Ministry of L&J had also mentioned Babar Awan in list of responsible persons for delaying the project. He said the ministry had approved the project before Babar Awan held office of law minister, adding that after this the law ministry didn’t sign the guarantee form of the project despite four summaries were sent to it during Babar Awan’s tenure. He said that the department had evidence and 37 witnesses against the accused persons. After the two sides completed their arguments, the court reserved its judgment on the matter.