NAB court declares PML-N lawmaker proclaimed offender in graft case

MULTAN: An accountability court in Multan has declared Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial lawmaker Ghulam Asghar Ali Gurmani and another individual proclaimed offenders after they failed to appear in proceedings in a corruption-related case, according to a court order issued on Friday.

Accountability Court Judge Naeem Ahmad issued the order against Gurmani, a member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab elected in 2024, and Faisal Tehseen, directing their arrest and further legal action.

The court record stated that proclamation notices were issued under relevant legal provisions and affixed at multiple locations, including the outer gate of a residence in Employees Colony, Layyah district, as well as other associated premises.

According to the order, court process servers and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials submitted separate reports confirming the execution of the proclamations.

Statements were recorded from officials including Shahzad Ahmad, an assistant sub-inspector with NAB Lahore, and Zia Ullah of NAB Multan.

The reports indicated that copies of the court notices were duly affixed and delivered in accordance with legal procedure.

Despite these efforts, both accused failed to appear before the court.

“In view of the above, it appears that attendance of the accused is impossible,” the order said, declaring both individuals proclaimed offenders and directing issuance of perpetual arrest warrants.

The court further ordered that the case file be transferred to NAB authorities for further proceedings and consigned to the record room upon completion of formalities.