Khaqan Abbasi’s physical remand extended till Aug 15

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – An accountability court on Thursday extended the physical remand of former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) scandal. Abbasi was presented before the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir as his 13-day physical remand expired today. Khaqan Abbasi was taken under custody by NAB team while en-route on Thokar Niaz Baig road on July 18, over liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) scandal. Judge Bashir adjourned the hearing till August 15 by extending his physical remand and asked him to get a counsel, who can oppose his physical remand in the court. The PML-N leader who is fighting his case by himself, said in his arguments before the AC judge, that he can extend his remark up to his will. During the hearing, Judge Bashir remarked, “Hire your counsel who will proceed the case. To reply, “Let them give remand what you want,” the former prime minister said. On his appearance, speaking to the journalists, the former prime minister said that the democracy will rule the Senate election. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpnbS6JhvC0 The former prime minister is facing charges of corruption and awarding a LNG import contract at exorbitant rates in 2015, which caused big loss to the national exchequer. Sources said that he had granted a tender worth Rs220 bn to a firm in which he himself was a shareholder. NAB sources said that Abbasi, in 2013, had awarded a LNG import and distribution contract to the Elengy Terminal in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws. On July 18, the NAB arrested PML-N vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from the Toll Plaza near Thokar Niaz Baig in LNG case. Later, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was shifted to the NAB Rawalpindi after being arrested. 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.