Gilani gets temporary exemption in NAB reference

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Wednesday gave temporary exemption to former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Universal Services Fund (USF) corruption case.

Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik ordered Gilani to submit a security bond of Rs 1 million.

Gilani pleaded with the court to grant him exemption from appearance as he has to appear in Karachi too in another case.

Addressing media personnel outside the court, Gilani said: “This is not the first time I am appearing before a court and I have previously served a five-year prison sentence.”

“Four former prime ministers are being summoned in courts. There are cases ongoing against Nawaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf,” he said.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till October 22 after allowing an exemption to Gilani.

Earlier this month, the Rawalpindi chapter of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a reference against Gilani and others in a case of alleged misuse of authority in a publicity campaign of USF, which had caused a loss of Rs 128 million to the national exchequer.