KARACHI, March 30: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday exempted former defence minister Ghous Ali Shah, facing charges in respect of illegal appointments in the Civil Aviation Authority , from proceedings in the Accountability Court Karachi and directed the trial court to hear the final arguments of counsel of both sides in the absence of the accused.

SHC division bench comprising Justice Wahid Bux Brohi and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery ordered this while disposing of the application of Mr Shah seeking exemption from the trial court's proceeding on medical grounds.

The reference against him pertained to alleged illegal appointments in the CAA in the early 1990s. He is charged with appointing 122 people in the CAA in violation of rules during 1992 and 1993 when he was defence minister. - PPI