NAB court acquits Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, others in illegal PSO appointments case

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) acquitted all accused including former prime minster and withdrew references related to the illegal appointment in the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) on Monday.

During the hearing in in the accountability court in Karachi, NAB authorities requested to take back the case, which was accepted by the court and acquitted all those accused including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Others who were acquitted included former managing director of PSO Imran Haq, then petroleum secretary Arshad Mirza, and Yaqoob Sattar. The accountability court ordered the reference’s return to the NAB Chairman.

Earlier, NAB had filed a reference against ex-premier Abbasi and former petroleum secretary for alleged appointments in the PSO by violating rules and regulations which caused the loss of Rs138 million to the national exchequer.

Speaking to the media outside the court, Awaam Pakistan party chairman expressed joy over his acquittal after four long years, stressing closure of the NAB if the country was to run smoothly. He highlighted that the judge had acquitted four defendants in the case, while another individual had been facing charges for 12 years.

Abbasi added that his newly launched Awaam Pakistan party was ready to stand by all those parties who would work according to the constitution, adding that courts should review its procedure of handling cases.