Case seeking trader’s properties confiscation adjourned

LAHORE – An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned hearing of a case seeking confiscation of properties owned by Raja Centre Main Market, Gulberg owner Raja Riaz until February 28. During the hearing, Riaz’s son Hammad Riaz filed an application submitting that he is actual owner of the property confiscated by the court and orders regarding confiscation of properties might be revised in his favour.
On the court’s direction, Consolidation Officer Muhammad Jameel issued a notice to Hammad to produce documentary evidence on the case’s next hearing. The court also directed Jameel to contact the Gulberg Police Station SHO for registration of a criminal case on unsealing the property bearing number 71-D-1 Gulberg-III, which had been sealed by the court. A reference was filed against Riaz on charges of corruption in cooperative affairs.
He had been declared a proclaimed offender due to non-appearance. Earlier the court had attached properties of the accused situated at 71-D-1 Gulberg-III and office number 147-F Raja Centre. Separately, an accountability court adjourned hearing of a petition filed by citizen Zaibun Nisa until March 1 submitting that she is owner of the property, which is being confiscated by declaring former WAPDA chairman Lieutenant General (r) Zahid Ali Akbar as its owner.
According to details, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had submitted a list of illegal properties related to Akbar in name of his beneficiaries for attachment in the accountability court. Earlier, NAB had initiated investigation against the accused alleging that he made illegal assets worth billions of rupees in name of his beneficiaries. During investigation, it was revealed that Akbar by using his office and power as WAPDA chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, made illegal assets in name of his close relatives.
Afterwards, NAB filed a reference in an accountability court under Section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance in absence of accused, as he went to the US instead of joining the investigation. The court declared Akbar as a proclaimed absconder in his absence. After failing to bring back the former WAPDA chairman to Pakistan, NAB submitted a list of illegal properties related to Akbar for attachment in the accountability court.
According to details, the accused purchased properties in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) bearing number 588-X in name of his wife, 45-Y in name of his son Salman Ali Akbar, 46 in name of his wife, 327-G in name of his son Yasir Ali Akbar, 391-M in name of his wife, 181-CC in name of his son Yasir Ali Akbar, 28-CCA (commercial) in name of his wife and 193-BB in name of his wife.
The accused purchased two plots in the IEP Co-operative Housing Society, Lahore bearing number 11-B in name of his wife and 49-D/1 in name of his wife along with one plot at the Dura Shah Noor Gharial Camp, Murree in name of his wife Nadeem Akbar. During the next hearing, the court would record arguments on the petition filed by Nisa.