ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court on Friday directed the National Accountability Bureau to remove the names of non-concerned individuals and present a final challan in rental power case till January 17.

The former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf appeared before the Accountability Court judge Muhammad Bashir.

During course of hearing,the counsel of the former Prime Minister, Farooq H Naek argued that corruption allegations against his client are baseless.

He contended that Pervaiz has nothing to do with the corruption in rental power projects. Naek said the two co-accused have taken stay order from Lahore High Court.

Pervaiz Ashraf, a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader who served as prime minister from June 22, 2012 to March 25, 2013, was accused of receiving kickbacks and commissions from nine rental power project firms for awarding contracts for setting up their projects in 2008 to overcome electricity crisis in the country.

NAB has been investigating 12 RPPs cases in which nine firms reportedly received more than Rs 22 billion as mobilisation advance from the government to commission the projects, but most of them were accused of failing to set up plants.

Source: APP