Prosecutor NAB Usman Mirza informed the court that he does not want to make more arguments regarding the matter. The arguments made during the previous hearing are sufficient, he elaborated. Other accused including former Research Consultant Ministry of Law & Justice, Dr Riaz Mahmood and former Secretary Law Shumaila Mahmood also filed acquittal application before the court. The court adjourned the hearing of the case till May 6.
The anti-graft body had filed the reference against Ashraf, Awan and others including Muhammad Masood Chishti, former secretary law, Riaz Kiyani, former secretary law, Shumaila Mahmood, former research consultant at Ministry of Law & Justice, Dr Riaz Mahmood, former senior joint secretary law, and Shahid Rafi, former secretary water & power, on September 4 last year.