Court frames charges against senior bureaucrat, her husband in bogus cheque case

A banking court in Lahore has framed charges against Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Sehar Mano, and her husband Qadeer Ashfaq in a case of furnishing a ‘bogus’ cheque worth Rs100 million to a private bank for repayment of a house loan.

Banking Court Judge Muhammad Kashif framed the charges during the hearing of a petition filed by JS Bank.

The court also directed that prosecution witnesses be summoned at the next hearing to record their statements.

Sehar Mano appeared before the court on arrest warrants, following which she requested permanent exemption from attendance, citing official duties.

The court accepted her plea and granted her exemption from future appearances.

According to the bank’s counsel, Sehar Mano and her husband had obtained a loan for house construction, with Qadeer Ashfaq referencing his company, Platinum Constructions, during the loan process.

To secure repayment, the couple issued guarantee cheques, which later turned out to be dishonoured.

The bank’s lawyer informed the court that an outstanding amount of Rs 100 million remains unpaid, urging the court to initiate strict legal action against the accused for issuing bogus cheques.

Reporter: Shaheen Ateeq