Abbasi, Miftah’s judicial remand extended in LNG case

ISLAMABAD: An Accountability Court Tuesday extended the judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex-finance minister Miftah Ismail in LNG import reference till December 3.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday produced the accused including Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Miftah Ismail and Imranul Haq before the Accountability Court judge after ending of their judicial remand period.

During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor told the Accountability Court judge that a corruption reference against the accused is prepared and would be filed within two weeks. He told that the NAB bureau office had already approved the reference they are just waiting for green signal from headquarters. “In this reference, the department would mention charges against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail,” he added.

The NAB prosecutor further told the court that the accused are making false claims outside the court that they are behind the bars without any reason. He said if the accused have any objection they could move bail petitions to the relevant forums.

The Accountability Court judge asked the NAB prosecutor to move reference as soon as possible after which the accused could be summoned again.

The NAB prosecutor requested the court to extend their judicial remand for 14 days which was accepted by the judge. The court also allowed the three accused to hold meeting inside courtroom for legal consultation on charges against them.