Bureau Report
KARACHI: An accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday indicted former prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in the illegal Pakistan State Oil (PSO) appointments case.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former secretary petroleum Arshad Mirza, former managing director of PSO Sheikh Imranul Haq appeared in court on Wednesday. The minister, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges read out by Accountability Judge, terming them baseless.
The court has summoned NAB’s witnesses in the case at the next hearing.
The anti-graft watchdog had filed a reference against Abbasi in the illegal appoint of Imran-ul-Haq as PSO managing director in a Karachi accountability court.
The Accountability Court, Karachi had also issued non-bailable warrants for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abbasi in a reference pertaining to the illegal appointment of managing director PSO.
Earlier in May, the Sindh High Court (SHC) granted interim bail to the former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwart, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former secretary petroleum Arshad Mirza in an illegal appointment case. Abbasi and Mirza had filed a plea in the SHC, seeking interim bail in the illegal appointment.
Meanwhile, The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal vowed on Wednesday that an impartial and transparent investigation will be conducted into sugar subsidy case. Javed Iqbal made the statement while chairing a high-level meeting to review sugar commission’s report which was attended by NAB deputy chairman, Director-General (DG) Operations and DG NAB Rawalpindi chapter.
It is decided to constitute a joint investigation team for initiating a thorough probe into sugar subsidy. The team will be comprised of two investigation officers, economic and legal officials, as well as forensic experts. The case officer, additional director and concerned directors will also be the part of the investigation team. Moreover, the NAB chairman will review the progress of investigation process on a monthly basis.
The participants of the meeting decided to summon records from all provinces regarding the sugar subsidy besides acquiring legal, financial and audit reports from the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and other concerned companies.
