An Accountability Court on Monday could not indict former Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and others in a corruption case of award of alleged illegal advertising contract to a private advertising agency, due to absence of two accused. NAB had filed reference against Gilani and others in the Accountability Court for alleged misuse of authority, causing a loss of Rs128 million to the national exchequer.
The Accountability Court judge, Muhammad Arshad Malik while hearing case could not frame charges against Gilani, Muhammad Saleem, former Principal Information Officer (PIO), Press Information Department (PID), Farooq Awan, former Secretary Ministry of Information Technology (IT), and Riaz Asher Siddiqui, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Universal Services Fund (USF) for misuse of authority in illegal publicity campaign through Midas Pvt Ltd and attempt to cause loss to the national exchequer.
Former premier Gilani, Saleem and other appeared before the court but accused Inam Akbar and Sayed Hussain did not appear before the court. The court approved an application filed by Gilani seeking complete exemption from personal appearance before the court due to security reasons.