ISLAMABAD: A former PIA employee requested the Supreme Court on Friday to initiate contempt proceedings against Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Aviation retired Capt Shujaat Azim for accepting the post in violation of its orders.

After having resigned from the post of adviser, Capt Azim had again accepted the position, thus “violating intentionally, knowingly and wilfully” the July 25 and Sept 25, 2013 orders of the apex court, argued the petition filed under the contempt of court law by Advocate Qazi Mohammad Anwar on behalf of Mansoor Ahmed Dhillu.

Capt Azim had tendered his resignation on July 25 last year in the Supreme Court amid controversy for being court-martialled and holding dual nationality (Canadian and Pakistani).

The petitioner requested the court to summon the adviser and punish him under contempt charges for disobeying the orders.

The petition named Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Javed Aslam Malik, and Cabinet Division Deputy Secretary Siraj Ahmed as respondents.

The petition recalled that a Senate standing committee had also expressed displeasure over the appointment of Capt Azim and over an agreement signed with the Qatar Leasing Company to acquire eight used aircraft for $230 million on lease. The monthly rent of each plane was $300,000 per month.

The submission of a letter of intent and signing of the agreement on the same day gave rise to suspicion of personal monetary interest on part of the high-ups, the petition alleged.

Ikram Junaidi adds: PTI chief Imran Khan on Friday regretted the Supreme Court decision on his petition against the appointment of the present chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Imran Khan in his statement said that while he and his party respected the SC decision, they maintained their position that this appointment was a clear case of a “muk muka” (deal) between the government and the PPP, which is why the government side was aided by PPP lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan in its arguments against the petitioner.

“The PML-N and PPP are maintaining politics of muk muka, especially on the issue of accountability,” he said.

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