PIA illegal appointments: Five suspects, including PML-N's Mehtab Abbasi, indicted

ISLAMABAD: At least five suspects, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) senior leader, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, were indicted on Tuesday in the National Accountability Bureau's reference pertaining to the illegal appointments at the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

The indictments were announced by the judge, Justice Muhammad Bashir, during a session at an accountability court in the federal capital.

All the suspects, however, categorically denied involvement in the crime.

On the other hand, the complainants were asked to present their witnesses on October 29.

Separately, another hearing took place in the Supreme Court of Pakistan over a case pertaining to the PIA's administrative affairs.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court rejected the petitions against the appointment of PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik and advised that performance reports of the national carrier be submitted in a month from today.

The judge, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, remarked that PIA CEO Arshad Malik set up short- and long-term plans and that the the national carrier's departmental structure be improved.