PSO reference: SHC confirms interim bail of Shahid Khaqan, others

The Sindh High Court confirmed on Thursday the interim bail for former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others in the reference related to the appointment of Pakistan State Oil’s Managing Director.

In August, an accountability court in Karachi had indicted former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others for allegedly making illegal appointments in PSO and causing harm to the national exchequer during his tenure as the petroleum minister.

The high court, in its order, stated that all the suspects in the case should be placed on the Exit Control List.

The court accepted the bail plea over bail bonds worth Rs500,000.

Abbasi is accused of "illegally appointing" Sheikh Imran ul Haq as managing director and Yaqub Sattar as deputy managing director of the state-run oil firm.

NAB official had said the accused had caused a loss of Rs138 million to the national exchequer.

Speaking to media outside the SHC, Khaqan Abbasi said that the NAB filed the reference after 1.5 years.

“I am facing the allegation of illegally appointing the MD PSO,” said Abbasi, adding that “after a long argument” the court subsequently approved our bail plea.

The PML-N leader said that NAB did not have an answer to even a single question posed by the court.

“Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq spent three years at PSO, which turned out to be profitable,” said Abbasi, claiming that the current MD has caused a damage of Rs6.5 billion to the country.

“Political references are being filed against us,” said the former prime minister, adding that the chairman NAB does not see the corruption in his own institution.

“In the name of sugar, Rs250 billion were looted but NAB does not see it,” he said.

The PML-N leader continued that there was not a single competent person in any institution these days.

“The prime minister does not know about things and keeps on making statements (against others),” said Abbasi, adding that PM Imran Khan thought of coming to Karachi after recent rain crisis following Shehbaz Sharif’s visit.