LNG corruption case: Ex-PM Abbasi’s remand extended till 26th

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Thursday granted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a further physical remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former finance minister Miftah Ismail and ex-managing director Pakistan State Oil Imranul Haq till September 26 in LNG corruption case.

Judge Muhammad Bashir remarked that the physical remand of former prime minister was being extended for the last time as Abbasi had been in the NAB custody for 56 days.

During the proceedings, the NAB investigation officer informed the court regarding the progress in the investigation process, and prayed the court to grant further 14-day physical remand of the three.

At this, Abbasi came to rostrum and pleaded that all cases against him were politically motivated, adding he feared that a false case would be foisted against him. He reiterated that the NAB should be granted his further 90 days remand at once. The former prime minister’s counsel prayed the court to fix two days in a week for him to meet his client as the bureau didn’t allow for this.

Ismail’s counsel pleaded that his client was being kept in isolation for 23 hours every day and prayed the court to allow him to have his meal with Abbasi. He also objected to the NAB’s request for further remand.

After hearing arguments from both the sides, the court accepted the NAB’s request and extended 14 days physical remand of Abbasi, Ismail and Haq.