September 13, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 15, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: The Supreme Court on Friday withdrew its order in which it had restrained the Accountability Court, Karachi, four years ago not to pass its judgment in a case in which Ms Benazir Bhutto and her officials were accused of making illegal appointments in the PIA.

The SC decision on Friday paves the way for Accountability Court, Karachi, to pronounce its judgment in the case in which it has already concluded the proceedings.

The Supreme Court in 1999, on the petition of the PPP chairperson, had agreed to decide the question whether the case pending against her came in the ambit of definition of corruption as defined in the defunct Ehtesab Act.

The SC had also restrained the Accountability Court from passing the final judgment, but had allowed it to continue its proceedings.

Ms Bhutto, her aide and former top PIA officials have been accused in the case of making 1393 illegal appointments in the PIA after violating services rules and regulations of the organization.

Besides Ms Benazir Bhutto, the other accused in the case are: Naheed Khan, Air Vice Marshal Umer Farooq (retd), Ghulam Qadir Shah Jamote and Siraj Shamsuddin.

The Supreme Court, which had fixed the case for hearing on Monday, had adjourned the case for two days after a statement that Mr Farooq H. Naek, counsel of Ms Benazir Bhutto, was ill.

But again, the counsel did not appear and the court had to adjourn the hearing. However, on Friday the court took up the case again and it was informed by Advocate Abdul Hafeez Lakho that Farooq H. Naek would appear in the case.

The court first reserved its judgment, but later vacated the stay.