Court rejects plea to quash reference against Sharjeel Memon, others

F.P. Report

KARACHI: An accountability court on Saturday rejected a request of former information minister Sharjeel Memon and other accused to quash a reference pertaining to alleged corruption of Rs5.76 billion in the provincial information department.

The judge also rejected their another petition against their impending indictment in the corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The police produced the imprisoned PPP leader and other accused before the court as it began trial proceedings.

Memon through his counsel filed an application, requesting the trial court to constitute a medical board to examine his health.

His lawyer said that his client was not being provided proper medical facilities inside the prison and added the jail authorities cited the court having restrained them from providing the facilities to the accused. He said that the PPP leader was being meted out unfair treatment.

The judge directed the jail authorities to file a report on the health of Memon in next hearing on Nov 24.

Sharjeel Memon, who had returned to Pakistan in March this year after his two-year long self-imposed exile, is facing several charges of misappropriation and corruption.

A reference filed against him related to the alleged award of government advertisements at exorbitant rates, causing loss of more than Rs five billion to the national exchequer.

Another case related to his alleged role in getting the state land allotted and adjusted in 43 Dehs at throwaway prices for a property developer, depriving the public exchequer of billions of rupees in revenue.