Ashiana case hearing adjourned.

LAHORE -- An accountability court on Saturday adjourned hearing of Ashlana Housing Scheme reference as a prosecution witness partially testified.

During the hearing, Presiding Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry asked the counsel for the suspects to assist the court as to how trial proceedings could be concluded without delay.

Advocate Amjad Pervez, the counsel, stated that trial of the cases with more number of suspects usually took more time to conclude. He pointed out that two suspects were still in judicial custody, while all others had been released on bail.

The judge observed that theusually the suspects on bail remained absent from the proceedings when their presence was needed most. He further observed that the suspects should appoint their pleaders so that the proceedings were not disturbed due to their absence.

Meanwhile, the counsel on behalf of one of the suspects, Shahid Shafiq, questioned the statement of a prosecution witness, Muhammad Riaz. He said the witness backed out from his statement.

The judge adjourned further hearing till June 25 for the statements of other witnesses.

Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, former principal secretary to prime minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, former director general of Lahore Development Authority...