ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi until Feb. 4, in a case involving a multi-billion rupee contract for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar.
Abbasi was present at the court hearing during which another accused, former Pakistan State Oil (PSO) director Shahid Islam, was declared an absconder. Indictment proceedings in the case were adjourned until Feb. 4 due to Islam’s absence.
On Dec. 3, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s antigraft body, filed a reference against 10 accused, including Abbasi, former finance minister Miftah Ismail, and former PSO managing director Sheikh Imranul Haq.
According to NAB’s reference, Abbasi and others are accused of illegally awarding the LNG import contract to a private company on exorbitant rates. The company has received benefits of more than Rs21 billion between March 2015 and September 2019.
The reference said the national exchequer would suffer a loss of Rs47 billion by 2029 due to the contract.
Abbasi, vice president of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, was serving as a federal minister for petroleum in the cabinet of ex-premier Nawaz Sharif when he finalized the LNG import deal.
He served as prime minister following the resignation of Sharif in 2017.
