LNG reference: IHC issues notice to NAB, seeks reply on Shahid Khaqan’s bail plea

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday sought reply from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on post arrest bail petition of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in LNG reference.

Division bench of IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Lubna Saleem conducted hearing on Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s bail plea. The court has directed the NAB to submit its reply till next Monday against the petition.

Abbasi’s lawyer requested the court to approve his client bail until completion of his trial in LNG reference filed by the NAB. He gave reference of bail granted to Shaikh Imranul Haq, a co-accused in the LNG case. He said Abbasi has been in NAB’s detention for 191 days and the real motive of the accountability bureau is only to harass his client. It was initiated for his media trial. The NAB has filed an interim reference against the petitioner till now he said.

After hearing arguments, the bench issued notices to NAB and sought reply within one week. It is to mention here that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is accused of granting contract on LNG terminal to ETPL, Tri-partil agreement, LSA with EETPL and LNG import from Qatar when he was minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources.

On September 10, 2018 apex court directed NAB to complete inquiry against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others for alleged corruption in LNG contract.

In June 2018, the NAB approved inquiry against former premier Nawaz Sharif and Abbasi for granting contract of LNG terminal for 15 years to their ‘favourite’ company, which caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer. According to NAB documents, the contract for the LNG import and distribution was awarded to the Elengy Terminal, a subsidiary of Engro, in 2013 in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws.