Khaqan and Miftah’s physical remand extended by 14 days

ISLAMABAD: An Accountability Court has extended the physical remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former finance adviser Miftah Ismail by 14 days in the LNG case.

The physical remand of both former prime minister and former finance minister has been extended on request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

NAB officials presented Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail in the accountability court. The officials pleaded to the court for an extension in physical remand of the accused by further 14 days.

PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Rana Tanvir also met Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the courtroom. Former deputy speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Malik Abrar were also present during the meeting.

Judge Muhammad Bashir reserved his decision over the Accountability Bureau request, which was later granted by the court. The court, however, approved NAB’s plea and asked it to present the suspects on 26th September again.

In an informal talk with media outside the Accountability Court, Khaqan Abbasi said, “I apologise to the nation for appointing the National Accountability (NAB) chairman.”

He said, “The name of NAB chairman had come from Pakistan People’s Party and an appointment was made with a consensus”.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said, “What the chief justice was saying yesterday is the real matter of the fact. These are political cases and I fear they will cook up a false case against me.”

The PML-N leaders are accused of being involved in awarding a 15-year contract for an LNG terminal against the rules when Abbasi was petroleum minister in the cabinet of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Abbasi was arrested by 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.