HYDERABAD: The accountability court judge of Hyderabad on Tuesday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference in the multibillion-rupee land scam case of the M6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway.

The court adjourned the matter for March 28 while fixing hearing of the bail applications of three accused for March 22. The judge asked the NAB investigating officer to complete the investigation and file a reference before the coun. It has not passed order on the NAB application seeking physical remand of the prime accused in the matter.

All the accused who were in custody and on bail were present. Former Matiari deputy commissioner Adnan Rasheed, former assistant commissioner Mansoor Abbasi and Sindh Bank`s former manager Tabish Shah complained of maltreatment by the NAB during the interrogation in Nara prison, Hyderabad.

They said they had been beaten by the NAB officials dudng the interrogation of the case.

Asking them to file an application in that regard, the judge said he would call a repon from the prison authodties. The coud was informed that there was no close circuit television camera (CCTV) where the accused were interrogated.

NAB`s special prosecutor Jungu Khan said the accused were in fact `enjoying` in the special prison Nara; they should be shifted to the Central PHson of Hyderabad. He contended that an application of the NAB for seeking the physical custody of the accused might be decided by the coun and that he would argue that plea on March 28 when the main case would be heard.

The court would take up and confirm or otherwise the pre-arrest bail pleas of Aslam Pirzado and Jurial Shah, who were on interim bail. Ishrat Lohar, counsel for Zawar Shah, urged the coun to decide his client`s bail application and the coun decided to hear it on March 22.