Former Pakistan prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervaz Ashraf appear in Pakistani court

Former Pakistani prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaz Ashraf today appeared in a court here in connection with graft cases filed against them.

The National Accountability Bureau, the country's anti-corruption watchdog, has charged the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders in a case related to the alleged illegal appointment of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA)'s chairman during Gilani's tenure. Gilani and Ashraf arrived at the court with a large number of supporters from the PPP.

Talking to the media, Gilani said the PPP has always respected the judiciary and will continue to do so. He was showered with rose petals by his supporters. Gilani's counsel asked the court to exempt his client from appearing in person for the hearings. The court approved the requested and adjourned the case till March 5.

On January 24, NAB had filed a case over the appointment of Tauqeer Sadiq as OGRA chief against the two former premiers. The bureau also filed a supplementary case in a case related to alleged corruption worth Rs 82 billion in OGRA. Both the premiers were provided with a copy of the cases filed against them.