NAB accepts Rs 1.39bn plea bargain in PSO Case

News Desk

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accepted a plea bargain of Rs 1.39 billion from an accused involved in Rs 23 billion alleged corruption in the state-owned Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

In a report submitted in an accountability court, NAB had informed that state-owned company PSO had suffered a loss of Rs 23 billion due to corruption.

According to the reference, accused persons involved in this scam had caused losses worth Rs23 billion to the national exchequer.

The accused agreed to return the amount of Rs 1.39 billion in three installments under a plea bargain. According to the report, NAB had accepted this plea bargain offer.

A local TV ARY reported that the NAB had named former PSO chief Naeem Yahya Mir, former general manager (supply) Akhtar Zameer, a former director of petroleum and natural resources, and others in the reference. PPP government made the questionable appointments of Naeem Yahya Mir as managing director PSO.

PSO is a state marketing company that is a major shareholder in the supply of petroleum products. This state-owned marketing company has been facing controversies during different tenures due to political appointments at key posts.

READ                         Irregular appointments: NAB inquiry lands in Petroleum Division.

This company had also faced a scandal of appointment of Sheikh Imran ul Haque as the head. The PML-N government had made a questionable appointment of Sheikh Imran,  was lack experience in an oil company. He had been head of Engro LNG terminal. However, the government-appointed as head of PSO him at the hefty package.