ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and former federal minister for labour and manpower, to appear in the court in person and submit his statement in a case relating to illegal appointments to the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) in 2010. The court also issued bailable arrest warrants for former Labour and Manpower secretary Arif Azeem for not appearing in the court. A three-member bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Thursday heard contempt proceedings against the former chairman and secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Manpower over illegal appointment to the EOBI. The court issued bailable arrest warrants for Azeem against surety bonds of Rs 100,000 and directed the authorities to put his name on the Exit Control List (ECL). During the hearing, the chief justice said the court had summoned Azeem, but he did not appear. National Accountability Bureau special prosecutor Nasir Mughal informed the court that he informed Azeem over the phone about the court notice, but he said he had taken ex-Pakistan leave from his office and he was going abroad for a medical check-up. This annoyed the court and it issued warrants for Azeem’s arrest and orders for placement of his name on the ECL. Later, the court adjourned the case.