Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday told the Combined Investigation Team (CIT) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that there was no irregularity in the award of liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract and it was signed as per rules and regulations. Abbasi while answering questions of the CIT with respect to alleged corruption in award of LNG contract rejected all allegations and told the probing team that the contract was okay in accordance with national and international laws.
The former premier also appeared before NAB's CIT in connection with import of 34 bulletproof cars from Germany for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference, besides the LNG case. During a brief chat with reporters outside NAB Rawalpindi office, he said that he will appear before the anti-graft body whenever he is summoned. Answering a question, Abbasi said that he will answer all questions of NAB. During the previous hearing, the NAB team handed over him a questionnaire.
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.
The Supreme Court on September 10, 2018 had directed the NAB to complete an inquiry into the matter and submit its report. The case was registered at the NAB Karachi in 2015 on the complaint of Shahid Sattar, an energy expert, 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, who is seeking disqualification of then Prime Minister Abbasi over alleged corruption in the award of LNG import contract.
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