ISLAMABAD: A federal anti-corruption court on Monday expressed annoyance at the absence of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his counsel, Farooq H Naek, in Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) cases, while ordering both to appear before the court immediately.
Yousuf Raza Gilani is named in as many as 26 cases originating from a multi-billion Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) scam which had led to his disqualification and ouster back in 2012.
In an earlier hearing, the court shelved indictment of Gilani in the case.
The case that has been stretched over the past six years was this time postponed due to the absence of Gilani’s counsel, Farooq H Naek. His junior associate informed the court that Naek couldn’t appear in the proceedings as he was busy at the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Despite the passage of six years, the corruption charges against Gilani and his aides have not gotten anywhere.
Gillani, who was ousted during Zardari’s rule owing to a contempt of court case at the hands of the apex court, has not been held accountable for the corruption of multi-billions disbursement of trade subsidies as yet.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered multiple cases against the disgraced premier, as well as, more than two dozen TDAP officials for their alleged involvement in approving and disbursing fraudulent trade subsidies worth billions of rupees to several fake companies.
