An Appellate bench for Accountability Courts at Karachi comprising Justice Ghulam Nabi Soomro and Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro on Monday set aside conviction and sentence awarded to Chaudhry Sharif, former Deputy Director FIA, Immigration, Karachi airport, and two co-accused.
The bench announcing the judgement on Monday in the appeals set aside the 14-year jail term and a fine of Rs 10 million to the Chaudhry Sharif, Mukhtar and Hanif.
The bench remanded the case for re-trial, holding that the charge framed by the Accountability Court, headed by Qamaruddin Vohra, was not according to the challan and allegations by the prosecution.
According to prosecution, accused Sharif, who was appointed as a constable in FIA, got extraordinary promotions, rose to the senior position of Deputy Director, FIA, and during his service, accumulated wealth beyond his known sources of income.
The prosecution also allegedly traced wealth and property in the name of his frontmen and family members besides his lavish spending and transfer of huge money abroad.
The accused were sentenced to serve 14 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) by the trial court against which they preferred the instant appeals.