NAB files fresh case against ex-PM Abbasi over ‘illegal’ hiring

Ag Agencies

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a fresh reference against former petroleum resources minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, accusing him of the “illegal appointment” of a top official of the Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

According to a NAB press release issued on Friday, an accountability court in Karachi issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president as well as former secretary petroleum Arshad Mirza over the “illegal appointment” of former PSO managing director Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq “in violation of rules and regulations”.

The former prime minister and other suspects in the case have been accused of causing damage to the national exchequer to the tune of millions. The court also issued notices to Haq and Yaqoob Sattar and fixed the date of appearance on April 10.

Reacting to the new NAB reference, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif condemned the issuing of non-bailable warrants against Abbasi, saying: “Instead of fighting against coronavirus, NAB and Niazi (Imran Khan) are busy fighting the media and opposition.

“On one hand prisoners are being released and on the other those who served the nation are being arrested.” Shahbaz added that it was not the time for “political shows”.

“[Governments in] the entire world are united to save their people. In Pakistan, the government’s priority is to send the media and opposition members to jail,” Shahbaz said, adding that the opposition was willing to work with the government for the sake of the people but the government was spreading anarchy.

The latest reference comes just a month after Abbasi was released on bail after being in NAB custody since July last year in the LNG terminals case. Abbasi, Haq, as well as former finance minister Miftah Ismail and others are accused in the case which is still underway at an Islamabad accountability court.

Abbasi has been openly critical of the NAB. He once called the bureau a “political engineering factory”, and said former chief justices had also questioned the anti-graft body’s practices. “That is why we must end this institution and send these people packing,” he had said.