Court rejects acquittal plea of former chairman BDA in Reko Diq corruption caseÂ
Manan Mandokhail:Â
The Accountability Court Quetta has rejected the bail application of former chairman Balochistan Development Authority (BDA) and former Additional Chief Secretary Development in Reko Diq corruption case.
Quetta Accountability Court Judge MunawarAhmad Shahwani in his judgment said that although there is no bar for an accused persons to file an application under section 265-K Cr.P.C at any stage of the proceedings for his discharge/ acquittal and keeping in mind facts and circumstances of the case the court has got ample powers to acquit any accused at any stage.
​However, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has declared the Chaghi Hills Exploration Joint Venture Agreement illegal and void ab initio and since the former chairman of BDA has signed the CHEJVA agreement and theprosecution has leveled multiple allegations against him and without recording prosecution evidence it would cause prejudice to the either side so the plea of ​​acquittal from the trial of the accused is hereby dismissed.
​It may be mentioned here that NAB Balochistan has filed a reference against 26 persons including former chairman BDA Ata Muhammad Jaffer on the charges of illegally benefiting a foreign company for personal gain.
​According to the reference filed in the court, in year 1993, the CHEJVA agreement was signed between the BDA and an Australian company namelyBroken Hills Proprietary, in which the Australian company was illegally benefited especially by the BDA officials.
​Later, the investigation team headed by DG NAB Operations and DG NAB Balochistan with the approval of Chairman NAB Justice Javed Iqbal filed a reference against 26 persons including former chairman and officers of BDA in the accountability court of Quetta.
