ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court on Monday decided to hear on November 27 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's appeal against his conviction in 2001 by an anti-corruption court.
Bashir Kyani, the counsel for Gilani, had filed an application seeking the early hearing of the case. A single-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court said it would hear the matter on Thursday.
The court's registrar had earlier fixed the hearing for December 8.
On November 4, a division bench headed of the Islamabad High Court had adjourned the hearing of the case following a request from Gilani's counsel, who sought time for the transfer of another related case pending with the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court. The counsel asked the court to hear the two related cases simultaneously.
On February 11, 2001, Gilani was awarded a 10-year jail term and fined Rs 100 million by the National Accountability Court in Rawalpindi following his conviction on charges of irregularities in recruitment to the National Assembly Secretariat during his 1993-96 tenure as Speaker.
In another case, he was charged with having 15 official cars for his personal use.
The Rawalpindi bench the Lahore High Court had on October 7, 2006 granted Gilani bail in both cases and directed authorities to release him.
