SC takes up LNG case against PM Abbasi today

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) will today (Monday) take up a petition seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi over his alleged corruption in the award of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import contract. The petition filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprises of Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan will take up the case. The petitioner alleged that PM Abbasi indulged in massive corruption in the LNG contract awarded in 2015 as the minister for petroleum and natural resources. Latif Khosa, the counsel of Sheikh Rasheed, further requested court to order National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate investigation against the premier. The petition stated that importing LNG without agreement is illegal, calling into question the integrity of PM Abbasi. It points out that transparency is a must when awarding contracts of public interest.