LNG scam; Abbasi's physical remand extended till August 15

The Accountability Court on Thursday extended physical remand of senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi till August 15 in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) scam.
The officials of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) produced former prime minister and senior PML-N leader Abbasi before Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir on expiry of his remand term.
The NAB prosecutor requested the court to extend physical remand of Abbasi for another 14 days for further investigations. Abbasi came to the rostrum and addressing the judge asked him to extend his remand into the NAB's custody as he wants.
While addressing Abbasi, the judge asked him to appoint his counsel to contest the NAB plea. To this Abbasi said, "I will myself contest the case because I know about the LNG case as I was the minister for petroleum at that time."
The prosecutor told the court that August 15 falls within the Eid holidays. To this the judge told the prosecutor that there is no issue in holding the hearing on a public holiday.
The NAB had arrested Abbasi from Thokar Niaz Baig Interchange, Lahore, on July 18, close to the Bureau's provincial headquarters after he failed to appear before a NAB investigation team in connection with the LNG scam.
According to the NAB's arrest warrants, Abbasi is accused of committing corruption and corrupt practices under the section 9 (a) of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
"The competent authority has taken cognizance of an offence committed by you under the provision of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 on the allegation of deceitfully, fraudulently and dishonestly causing loss to the national exchequer, misuse of authority and obtaining pecuniary advantage through corrupt, dishonest and illegal means during the award of LNG Terminal-I," said the NAB's arrest warrants.
"The investigation has revealed that you are in possession of information and evidence regarding the award of LNG Terminal-I to M/s EETPL, etc, which relates to the commission of the said offence," according to the arrest warrants.