NAB team interrogates Khaqan Abbasi in light of new evidence

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday appeared before a combined investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with its probe into the LNG scandal. According to the sources, the probe team interrogated Khaqan Abbasi in light of new evidence with regard to the LNG agreements in question. He was also questioned about billions of rupees worth of transactions into his account. Ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said he has nothing to do with these transactions and that signed an LNG contract as per relevant rules. The sources said he was handed another questionnaire to submit his response to and will likely be summoned again to be quizzed in light of his replies. Earlier a day, the NAB has once again summoned former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in connection with its ongoing investigation into the LNG scandal. According to the NAB sources, the corruption watchdog has asked the PML-N stalwart and his son to show up tomorrow at the Rawalpindi office where they will likely be quizzed about billions of rupees worth of suspicious transactions into their accounts. They said the father-son duo will be asked to explain under what head billions of rupees were transacted into their accounts at a time when the then government was in the process of finalising the LNG agreements. The bureau says it has new evidence against him. “His stance on the matter will be heard before a new supplementary reference is filed against him.” NAB has summoned the former premier on the basis of “secret transactions” conducted via his accounts. The bureau says money was transferred to the accounts of Abbasi’s family members, including his son Abdullah Khaqan. His son has also been asked to present himself before the NAB. Abbasi is already being investigated in the LNG terminal contract case and spent several months in NAB custody. Besides, they will also have to respond to questions that they failed to answer during their previous appearance before the investigation team. Earlier, the IHC granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in liquefied natural gas (LNG) case. The two-member bench of IHC heard the bail plea of Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal Sports City scandal. The court approved the bail of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi against surety bonds worth Rs10 million.