Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and the current Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been indicted in illegal appointments case on Wednesday (today).
An accountability court in Karachi indicted ex-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Pakistan State Oil (PSO) illegal appointments case on Wednesday.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused Mr Abbasi of misusing his authority as federal petroleum minister to illegally appoint Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq and Yaqoob Sattar as Managing Director (MD) and Deputy MD Finance respectively.
According to the accountability watchdog, illegal appointments had cost national treasury of up to Rs 1.38 billion as Mr Imran-ul-Haq received a salary of Rs 4.95 million and Mr Waqoob Sattar Rs 2.7 millon per month.
During the case, NAB had contended that Imran-ul-Haq had no work experience in the petroleum industry and that both appointments were made in violation of the rules and regulations established by Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the appointment of high ranking officials and executives.
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Shahid Khaqan Abbasi however, has denied the charges and has pleaded ‘not guilty’.
The court then adjourned the hearing, directing NAB to present its witnesses on the next hearing.
Prior to this Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had secured protective bail in illegal appointments case from Islamabad High Court (IHC) back in March this year.
