LAHORE - A division bench of Lahore High Court Thursday reserved its judgment after hearing arguments on the appeals of Interior Minister Rehman Malik against his conviction by accountability courts in corruption cases made by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The bench comprising Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif and Justice Waqar Hassan Mir heard the arguments of the counsel for Interior Minister and counsel for NAB who defended the cases against Malik. As the proceedings started on Thursday an application was filed in the court by Maliks counsel Ch Mushtaq advocate seeking his exemption from personal appearance in the court. The application was accepted by the bench, when it was told that the minister was in China at the moment on an official tour. Maliks counsel pleaded that no notice was sent to Malik to appear in the accountability courts during trial and the trail courts convicted Malik in his absence. He pleaded that guilty verdict or punishment being given in the Interior Ministers absence was illegal. Maliks counsel also prayed that court should review and restore the right to appeal to Malik and also halt any punishment orders against him. When arguments were completed bench reserved its judgment on the cases.