Farzana Raja summoned in BISP reference case on Sept 17

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court has summoned Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Farzana Raja and eighteen others in the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) reference case on 17th September.

The former BISP chairperson skipped hearing on Tuesday presided by Judge Muhammad Bashir due to medical reasons. Her counsel told the court that Raja is unable to appear before the court and pleaded to join proceedings via video link due to her health issues.

The judge remarked the court will decide after seeing her medical reports. The hearing of the case was adjourned till 17th September. Farzana Raja and other accused have been directed to ensure their appearance before the court.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi office has filed the reference against Farzana Raja and other accused related to alleged corruption in BISP. Ms Raja was the BISP chairperson from 2008 to 2013 during the tenure of PPP.

The reference comprising 32 volumes has been sent to the Registrar Office for scrutiny in which 19 people have been made respondents. NAB had approved the filing of reference in December last year.