KARACHI, Aug 7: Being aggrieved by the single judge order of dismissing the suit, Nasir Hussain and others of Schon Group have filed an appeal in the Sindh High Court, praying for calling the record of the trial and setting aside the same, after being satisfied on alleged illegality and irregularity.

The appellants, who are some of the owners, shareholders, directors of various legal entities, incorporated in Pakistan, under the Schon Group of companies, have made the federal government through interior secretary, NAB and the FIA respondent in the matter, through their counsel Khwaja Naveed Ahmed.

It is the case of the appellant that after the alleged witch-hunt by the Ehtesab Bureau in 1997, the plaintiffs and other members of the Schon Group were forced to and had no option but to express to agree to all terms and conditions laid down by Ehtesab Bureau.

Plaintiffs could not resist such tremendous state by Ehtesab Bureau, with only one condition that any agreement with the Government of Pakistan should be in full and final settlement of the liabilities of the directors of Schon Group and all cases against them would stand settled/compromised and all FIRs etc. would be withdrawn.

With this objective agreed and understood between the parties, an agreement was drawn up. By virtue of the agreement, the control of Schon Group (Appellants) was taken over by the Ehtesab Bureau and assets were sold through distress sales.

The agreement constituted a solemn agreement with the government, which the government was bound by the Constitution and law to honour.

As a part of the said comprehensive settlement, the government was required and indeed undertook, inter alia, to withdraw and discontinue all criminal cases and other cases which gave rise to the liabilities covered by the agreement and which resulted into the comprehensive agreement signed by its own director general. Consequently by virtue of the agreement, FIRs registered by FIA officials as complaint were also required to be cancelled/withdrawn/disposed.