Court acquits Benazir in PIA case

[Falcon598]

Court acquits Benazir in PIA case


KARACHI, Nov 30: The accountability court on Wednesday acquitted former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and four others on corruption charges involving appointments to the state-owned carrier, court officials said.

"The prosecution has failed to prove its case against any of the accused. I, therefore, acquit all the accused," Judge Parkash Lal Ambwani of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said in his judgement.

The case relates to some 800 appointments to the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), during her second term in office.

Benazir was accused of causing heavy losses to the state by allegedly offering jobs at PIA to supporters of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

The defendants in the case included her political secretary, Nahid Khan, and former PIA chairman, retired Air Vice Marshal Omar Farooq.

The case was filed in May 1997 after Nawaz Sharif replaced Benazir as prime minister.

Except for Benazir, all four co-accused were present when the judgement was announced.

This was the oldest case against Benazir who is still facing about half a dozen other corruption charges, her party officials said. The court room was packed by PPP workers. - AFP

Source: DAWN

[F.K]

finally they ve been acquitted after a prolongued trial , with no solid evidence. the actual defendents were the chairman omer farooq and DA f/e jamote whose still serving. those were the heydays of flight engineers in pia with the entire administration under a commited loyal fe who was also best frds with the chairman and his special advisor on all matters, along with f/e ghulam pechucho who was heading the flight services and another f/e who was a director for special projects..also they had their friends in the board meetings which spoke out nothing but their welfare..were the real days of puissance when everything went as desired, even the flights of 3 man decks were routed to increase salaries of the engineers ...pilots were in a bit of pique and resentment but they also benefited...really remember those days as the best years of my dads flying carrier

[Che]

finally they ve been acquitted after a prolongued trial , with no solid evidence. the actual defendents were the chairman omer farooq and DA f/e jamote whose still serving. those were the heydays of flight engineers in pia with the entire administration under a commited loyal fe who was also best frds with the chairman and his special advisor on all matters, along with f/e ghulam pechucho who was heading the flight services and another f/e who was a director for special projects..also they had their friends in the board meetings which spoke out nothing but their welfare..were the real days of puissance when everything went as desired, even the flights of 3 man decks were routed to increase salaries of the engineers ...pilots were in a bit of pique and resentment but they also benefited...really remember those days as the best years of my dads flying carrier

This still does'nt change the fact that BB had thousands of her incompetent jialays recruited all over PIA as soon as she came into power...

[behramjee]

there was a parsi man named Mr Dinshaw Anklesaria in PIA during BBs 2nd reign I think...what was his official post and duties could someone please inform me in detail...thanks