(Karachi) An accountability court in Islamabad has declared former chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Farzana Raja, a proclaimed offender, and issued arrest warrants in the BISP corruption reference, local media reported on Monday.

Raja has been declared a proclaimed offender over her continuous absence in court hearings.

During proceedings of the case, Accountability Court Judge Asghar Ali issued orders to block Farzana Raja’s NIC and place her name on the no-fly list. The court also summoned the NAB prosecutor and adjourned the hearing till June 14.

Farzana Raja and other accused are facing charges of Rs540 million corruption in BISP funds.

The NAB Rawalpindi Bureau filed the reference against Farzana Raja and other accused. Raja remained chairperson of the BISP from the year 2008 to 2013 during the tenure of the Pakistan People’s Party government.

The reference comprised 32 volumes and 19 persons were nominated in the reference. The Executive Board of NAB had approved filing of the reference against Raja and others in a meeting in December 2019.