Accepting the review petition filed by former federal minister for petroleum and natural resources Anwar Saifullah Khan, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday acquitted him in the case of illegal recruitments in the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, heard the case.
During the hearing, the deputy prosecutor general said that there was a procedure for recruitments. “Firstly, an advertisement is placed in newspapers,” he added.
He further said that letters were issued to 145 candidates for recruitments in grade-4 and grade-5 in the OGDCL.
He went on to say that three candidates joined the company while 24 others joined later.
The official said that the former minister pressurized the then OGDCL chairman.
Justice Hashim Kakar said that the then chairman ought to have put up resistance.
Justice Salahuddin Panhwar remarked that approaching ministers for jobs was natural.
The deputy prosecutor general said his opinion was that a proper procedure was not followed for recruiting these persons.
He was of the opinion that if the former minister was allowed to go scot-free, this would create an impression that there was no punishment for the people like him.
A trial court had sentenced Saifullah to one year in prison besides fining him Rs5 million.
Later, the high court acquitted the ex-minister.
And when later the SC was approached, its three-member bench upheld the trial court’s verdict.
Later, a review petition was filed in the apex court, which gave its decision today.
Reporter: Amanat Gishkori