LNG case: NAB files graft references against Abbasi, Ismail

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed graft references against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex-finance minister Mitfah Ismail in the liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) case.

The reference was filed in the Islamabad NAB court by the NAB Rawalpindi after approval from the Chairman NAB Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal.

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Both accused along with nine others are currently on judicial remand in the case related to the LNG case.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) while en-route to Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore on 18th July in a multi-billion-rupee case related to the LNG import contract.

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As the minister for petroleum and natural resources, he has been accused of granting contracts on LNG Terminal to Tri-partial agreement, LSA with EETPL and LNG import from Qatar.

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In June 2018, the NAB approved inquiry against former premier Nawaz Sharif and Abbasi, who was the former minister for petroleum and natural resources at that time, in granting contract of LNG terminal for 15 years to their selected company. In January, the NAB interrogated Miftah Ismail in the same case.

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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.