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LNG case: AC extends Khaqan Abbasi’s judicial remand till Feb 4

LNG case: AC extends Khaqan Abbasi’s judicial remand till Feb 4
January 21, 2020
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Accountability court (AC) in Islamabad on Tuesday has extended judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi till February 4 in liquefied natural gas (LNG) case. Khaqan Abbasi was produced before court by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). During the hearing, the court has sought report on the arrest warrants of absconder Shahid Islam from NAB. The judge said that indictment proceedings cannot be carried out due to one absconder. Miftah Ismail cannot appear due to exemption from appearance. In the previous hearing, Khaqan Abbasi has been transferred to the Adiala Jail from hospital. The PML-N leader discharged from a private hospital after his health recovery. He was also shifted to Adiala Jail under strict security. It should be noted that the operation of the former PM’s address was caused by pain in his gallbladder for which he was operated on Dec 28, 2019. The doctors advised him rest and admitted him to the hospital. Earlier, the accountability court extended the judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi till January 21. Meanwhile, three accused, including Miftah Ismail, filed an application seeking exemption from attendance.
The court also directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit the arguments till January 13. On July 18, the NAB arrested PML-N vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from the Toll Plaza near Thokar Niaz Baig in LNG case. 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.