Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto misusing her authority and powers got recommended persons illegally appointed, upgraded and posted in Pakistan International Airlines through PIA authorities with intent to favour them in violation of corporation's rules and regulations, NAB's special prosecutor contended.
Concluding arguments before accountability court in Karachi, conducting trial against former prime minister and others in illegal appointment reference, Special Prosecutor Nasir Hussain Jaffery argued that prosecution proved sufficient evidences against accused in connection with illegal appointments in PIA.
Benazir Bhutto, AVM Umer Farooq (Retd), ex-MD of PIA, Director PIAC Ghulam Qadir Shah, political secretary to PM, Ms Naheed Khan and ex-section officer Najmul Hasan are accused of illegally recruiting 1,393 persons in different cadres in PIAC, posting persons abroad and promoting various officials rebuffing the rules.
The NAB reference was filed against chairperson of Pakistan People Party (PPP) and others in May 1997.
Twice elected Prime Minister and other co-accused denied all charges of prosecution. If convicted, they could face 7 years prison.
NAB's prosecutor said ex-prime minister had directed co-accused about the appointments of favourite persons in corporation and the co-accused not only acted upon these illegal directions but also sent intimation to PM, after recruiting these persons, about compliance of her order. He said even a single person, who applied after advertisement for the required posts, was not appointed in PIA.
Jaffery argued that defence counsels neither challenged the documents produced by prosecution with regard to approval for appointments in PIA nor during cross-examination the accused denied the genuineness of documents.
He submitted eligible and qualified persons, particularly those who were lawfully selected/approved by the selection board, were deprived at different stations due to illegal appointments.
Regarding co-accused Naheed Khan and Najmul Hasan, he said prosecution did not find any sufficient evidence against them but it was up to the court to decide about their fate in light of given evidences of prosecution.
Summing up case, he said defendants caused huge loss to national flag carrier by their illegal, unfair and unjust act and prayed court to punish them in accordance with law.
AC Judge Parkash Lal Ambwani after hearing arguments of special prosecutor fixed July 13, 2005 for hearing the arguments of defendants' counsels.
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