Court dismisses Turkish Karkey, Bhekhi, and Sharaqpur power plant references
ISLAMABAD
An accountability court in Islamabad Tuesday acquitted former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in three major references filed under the controversial Rental Power Projects (RPPs) cases.
According to a private television channel, in the same verdict, as many as 17 accused including a former WAPDA chairman, Tariq Hameed have also been exonerated. NAB Court No 2 Judge Muhammad Ali Warriach announced judgements in three significant RPP-related references on Tuesday.
In the Turkish ship-mounted power plant (Karkey) case, Raja Pervez Ashraf and 10 other accused were discharged. The Karkey reference had alleged corruption worth Rs22 billion. The Turkish company, Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim, had once filed a claim of Rs200 billion in damages against Pakistan, which was later withdrawn following government-level intervention. In the second case – the Bhekhi Power Project reference related to the Sheikhupura-based project – six accused persons including former WAPDA chairman were acquitted.
The Bhekhi project had been valued at approximately Rs 96 billion. In the third reference, related to the Sharaqpur Power Project, the court similarly acquitted the accused. The NAB had filed all three references under the Rental Power Projects corruption scandal. It is pertinent to mention that on October 29, 2024, Raja Pervez Ashraf’s counsel had filed a petition before Islamabad’s accountability court, seeking acquittal under the amended NAB law.
Advocate Tabraiz argued before the court of Judge Abida Sajjad in the matter saying allegations in the current case were similar to those in two other RPP cases in which some accused had already been acquitted. Earlier in September 2022, Accountability Court Judge Syed Asghar Ali had sent six rental power project references — including Reshma, Gulf, Samundari, Ratu Dero, and Satyana — back to NAB, stating that amendments to NAB laws prevented the continuation of their trials.
