Hearings on bail pleas of Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal adjourned till Feb 24

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The hearing on bail petitions of Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal till February 24 without any court proceedings on Thursday. The hearings on the bail pleas of Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal have been postponed without any proceedings as Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah is on sick leave. The bail petitions of Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal will be heard by a two-member IHC bench on February 24. Earlier, the IHC has issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on bail pleas of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the bail pleas of Ahsan Iqbal and Khaqan Abbasi. The court has sought reply from bureau on bail pleas of them. The IHC adjourned the hearing on 10 cases regarding bails of PML-N seniors for a week. The court directed NAB t submit reply till February 10. Khaqan Abbasi has moved the IHC for bail in the LNG scandal. In the petition, he contended that the NAB is taking action against them on political basis. He appealed to court to release him on the bail till completion of the trial. On July 18, the NAB arrested PML-N vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from the Toll Plaza near Thokar Niaz Baig in LNG case PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal has moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for bail in the Narowal Sport Complex case. In the petition, Ahsan Iqbal contended that he did not face the allegation of bribe or illegal benefit. “I have never refused to appear before the NAB. I should be granted bail till the case verdict,” he said. Ahsan Iqbal stated that the NAB arrested him when he joined investigation on December 19. “I face the allegation that Narowal Sport Complex was a provincial matter, but it was constructed through the budget given by the federal government,” he said. In May 2018, the National Accountability Bureau had initiated probe against then minister for planning Ahsan Iqbal for his alleged involvement in irregularities committed in the sports city project.