National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has further tightened the noose around former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi by starting investigation against him in connection with import of 34 bulletproof cars from Germany for SAARC conference, besides probing him for his alleged corruption in liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract award.
Abbasi, who also remained petroleum minister, appeared before the NAB's Combined Investigation Team (CIT) with regard to the LNG contract award and recorded his statement. During the previous hearing, the NAB team handed over to him a questionnaire but Abbasi has so far not answered most of the questions, sources said.
Sources said that the NAB investigation team also asked Abbasi to submit his reply about import of 34 bulletproof cars from Germany for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference without payment of customs duty. They said that the cars were imported ahead of the SAARC Summit 2016 and were to be used by diplomats, they maintained.
They said that the NAB team questioned Abbasi as to why these vehicles were used for the protocol of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family members. The investigation of this case is likely to expand and the NAB may also probe former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in this regard, they added.
Sources maintained that the NAB team also investigated Abbasi over "illegal" appointment of chairman Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (Ogra).
While talking to media persons after appearing before the NAB team, Abbasi said that he gave "satisfactory" answers during the hours-long investigation. When he was asked if the NAB team is satisfied from his statement, he said that this question should be asked from the NAB officials.
He said that his party will move the court if Nawaz Sharif needs to go abroad for treatment. "This is a matter of treatment and human rights," he added.
The NAB on January 2 had converted an inquiry into investigation against Abbasi for alleged misuse of powers with respect to the LNG terminal project.
The Bureau approved launching an investigation against Abbasi who served as former petroleum minister, Arshad Mirza, former secretary petroleum, Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq, former managing director Pakistan State Oil (PSO), and other officials at its executive board meeting (EBM) on January 2 last.
The Supreme Court on September 10, 2018 had directed the NAB to complete inquiry into the matter and submit its report. The case was registered in 2015 on the complaint of Shahid Sattar, an energy expert, at the NAB Karachi against Abbasi for awarding the LNG import contract which allegedly caused a huge loss to the national exchequer.
In February this year, the Supreme Court fixed a plea filed by President Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, seeking disqualification of the Prime Minister Abbasi over alleged corruption in the award of LNG import contract.
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