Shahid Khaqan Abbas, other accused acquitted as NAB withdraws LNG reference

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was given a big relief by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by withdrawing the LNG reference on Tuesday.

After the withdrawal of the reference, Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana acquitted all accused, including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

According to the NAB, the decision to quash the reference was made on merit.

On July 18, 2020 the NAB had arrested Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from the Toll Plaza near Thokar Niaz Baig in the LNG case. On Jan 2, the NAB Executive Board had authorized two investigations against 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.