Arrest warrants issued for Shahid Khaqan for alleged 'illegal hirings' as petroleum minister.

KARACHI -- An accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday, barely a month after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted him bail in a separate corruption reference related to the award of an LNG contract.

This time, the accountability court has issued the PML-N leader's arrest warrants over alleged illegal hiring during his tenure as the minister for petroleum resources.

NAB officials told the court that during proceedings against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, it was found out that he illegally appointed the managing director and deputy managing director of Pakistan State Oil.

The court, hearing the arguments, subsequently issued arrest warrants for Abbasi as well as former petroleum secretary Arshad Mirza.

The court also issued notices to those...