LAHORE - A National Accountability Court on Saturday put off further proceedings on case against former prime minister Raja Pervez Asharaf after prosecution witnesses could not appear to record their statements.

The court directed the NAB authorities to produce the witnesses on the next hearing.

Raja Pervez Ashraf has been facing trial in case of alleged illegal hiring with Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco).  According to the NAB reference, Raja Pervez Ashraf in connivance of other accused recruited as many as 437 people without taking merit into consideration. Moreover, the accused hired even those persons who had not applied for the job in GEPCO. After the hearing, Raja Pervez Ashraf criticized over the government authorities saying that why his name was put on the Exit Control List and why the name of Nawaz Sharif was not put there. He said it was double standard.