Karachi: An Accountability Court on Saturday rejected an application filed by former Sindh information minister and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Inam Memon, requesting the court to quash Rs.5.76 billion corruption reference against him and others.

Memon, who has been behind the bars since October 23, filed an application in the trial court and requested it to halt his indictment in the reference by declaring it annul.

The former minister, donning white cotton Shalwar Qameez, was brought in an armored personnel carrier to the court where he could not walk properly owing to ‘back pain’.

His counsel submitted that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed reference against him without giving him an opportunity of fair hearing. He prayed to the court to set-aside the reference and order Memon’s release.

On the other hand, the NAB prosecutor opposed his plea, arguing that there were sufficient evidences against the former minister and his application was liable to be dismissed.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court turned down Memon’s plea, ruling that the reference will be heard as per law.

The National Accountability Bureau has moved a reference against Memon and 16 other accused, including information department’s former officials, and directors of some private advertisement agencies, for allegedly embezzling Rs.5.76 billion of the national exchequer.—PPI