LAHORE: Former Punjab forestry minister Sibtain Khan on Friday sought exemption from personal appearance in an accountability court in Chiniot mines and minerals contract case.
An accountability court in Lahore conducted hearing in the case related to the allegedly illegal awarding of a contract for extracting minerals in Chiniot.
However, Khan did not appear before the court and sought exemption from appearance through his counsel.
During the hearing, the court questioned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor regarding the reason for not filing a corruption reference. To which, he told the court that preparation of the corruption reference has entered into its final phase and it will be filed after the formal approval of the Bureau’s chairman.
Subsequently, the court extended the judicial remand of three co-accused and adjourned the hearing till Oct 18.
On Sept 18, the Lahore High Court (LHC) accepted a bail petition filed by Khan and ordered him to furnish surety bonds worth Rs5 million.
The PTI stalwart had been arrested by NAB on June 14 which claimed that Khan had awarded an allegedly illegal contract for extracting minerals in Chiniot in 2007 in the capacity of provincial forestry minister.