IHC grants bail to former PSO MD Imranul Haq in LNG case

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted bail to former Pakistan State Oil (PSO) managing director (MD) Sheikh Imranul Haq in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) case. The court has directed to release the suspect and ordered him to submit surety bond worth one million rupees. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had requested the IHC to turn down the bail petition. The court also dismissed plea to cancel the bail of Imranul Haq by the NAB, remarking that the corruption watchdog body failed to prove corruption and misuse the authority allegations against the former PSO MD. Earlier, court in Islamabad has extended judicial remand of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and  former finance minister Miftah Ismail and Imranul Haq till December 3 in liquefied natural gas (LNG) scandal. During the hearing, the court has directed the authorities to file reference against the accused as early as possible. After appearance before the accountability court, Khaqan Abbasi said that he was being harassed but will not compromise on his principles. He also said that he will not apply for bail at any cost. Earlier, the NAB has prepared reference against former president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the LNG scandal. Inter-State Gas Systems Managing Director (MD) Mubin Saulat and former petroleum secretary Abid Saeed, who become an approver in the LNG case, appeared before NAB office and recorded their statements. The sources also said that Abid Saeed and Mubin Saulat have handed over all evidences to anti-graft watchdog It added that the corruption watchdog body has finalised references against Khaqan Abbasi, Miftah Ismail and Sheikh Imranul Haq in LNG case. Furthermore, the NAB executive board meeting will review LNG reference against the PML-N leader Khaqan Abbasi in its meeting next week. On Jan 2, the NAB Executive Board had authorized two investigations against Mr Abbasi, being former minister for petroleum and natural resources — one for his alleged involvement in irregularities in LNG import and the other related to the appointment of Naeemuddin Khan as president of the Bank of Punjab. The NAB inquiry found that the SSGCL signed a 15-year contract with a subsidiary company of Engro for re-gasification of LNG at fixed daily processing charges. The government authorized the Pakistan State Oil to procure LNG on behalf of the SSGCL. However, the NAB reopened the inquiry against Abbasi in October 2018.