Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking protective bail in an illegal appointment case.

On March 31, IHC had granted four-week protective bail to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former secretary petroleum Arshad Mirza in a reference pertaining to the illegal appointment of managing director Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

Barrister Zafarullah Khan has filed the petition on Abbasi’s behalf.

In his plea, Abbasi stated that NAB Karachi had issued arrest warrants for him.

While, he is in Islamabad and cannot appear before the accountability court, Karachi, due to lockdown.

Shahid Khaqan in his plea has requested IHC to grant him pre-arrest bail in NAB case till May 12.

The Accountability Court, Karachi had issued non-bailable warrants for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in illegal appointment case.

The anti-graft watchdog filed second reference against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the illegal appoint of Imran-ul-Haq as PSO managing director in a Karachi accountability court.