Karachi, Aug 27 (IANS): A court here on Thursday issued warrants for the arrest of Pakistan's former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Dawn reported.

The order against the leaders was issued after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented a charge sheet in the court with 12 cases -- relating to a multi-million-rupee scandal in the Trade Development Authority (TDAP) -- registered against the two.

Cases against the two PPP leaders, some former and serving senior officials of the Trade Development Authority and others were registered by FIA for their alleged involvement in approving and disbursing fraudulent trade subsidies of millions of rupees to several fake companies through fictitious claims and back-dated cheques.

The anti-corruption court had issued arrest warrants for both PPP leaders earlier as well. However, they failed to appear before the court.

Approving the charge sheet during Thursday's hearing, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for both of them.