LNG scam: NAB summons ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for Feb 8

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – The Rawalpindi National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday summoned former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) scandal. The case was registered on the complaint of Shahid Sattar, an energy expert and former member of the Planning Commission and the SSGC board of directors, along with others, accusing Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of misusing his authority and causing a potential $2bn loss to the national exchequer in 15 years. NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal had approved an inquiry against Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for allegedly awarding a 15-year contract for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal against the rules when Abbasi was the petroleum minister in Nawaz's cabinet. In December 2016, the NAB had wrapped up an inquiry conducted for 17 months against Abbasi for his alleged role in awarding a Rs220 billion contract for the import and distribution of LNG in 2013. The inquiry was stopped despite the fact that it had been proved that the contract had been awarded in a ‘non-transparent manner’. Earlier, former finance minister Muftah Ismail has recorded his statement before the NAB.