The Accountability Court Monday extended judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former finance minister Miftah Ismail and ex-managing director (MD) Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imran-ul-Haque till November 19 in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) case.
The officials of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) produced Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Abbasi and Ismail, and former MD PSO Sheikh Imran-ul-Haque on expiry of their judicial remand and requested the court to extend their judicial remand.
During the hearing, Abbasi came to the rostrum and said that trial of his case be broadcasted live on TV in order to inform public about it. "Prime Minister Imran Khan and NAB chairman are both saying that they are conducting accountability," he said, adding the hearing of the case should be shown live on TV channels in order to inform public what was really happening and what kind of accountability was continued in the country.
Abbasi also filed an application before the court seeking to allow him to avail treatment of his own choice at his own expenses. Abbasi urged the court to allow him to get his surgery done at Shifa international Hospital Islamabad. He said the surgery was recommended by a medical board, adding he would incur all the expenses himself. The government of Punjab was not ready to take responsibility of his treatment, he said.
He said health condition of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif deteriorated in NAB custody due to delay in providing proper treatment. He further said he wanted to return the Better Class facility provided to him in jail. He said that Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar was unhappy over provision of Better Class to him in jail. "I can provide him relief by returning facilities provided to me," he said.
Abbasi also requested the court to order for provision of a laptop to him in jail for preparation of his case. The NAB prosecutor opposed the request.
The counsel of Ismail told the court those who have served the country are languishing in jail without any charge. "Under the law an accused could not be kept in jail even for one day," he said.
He said jail authorities did not allow Ismail to meet with Abbasi in jail. The judge asked Ismail if the jail authorities had not allowed his meeting with Abbasi.
Ismail replied that jail authorities had imposed many restrictions on him. The court allowed the three accused to meet with each other in jail.
The judge ordered the jail authorities to set a day for the meeting between the arrested suspects and their counsels. The judge also directed the authorities to produce the medical reports of Abbasi before it.
During the hearing, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Musadik Malik exchanged harsh words with police personnel deployed at the gate of the courtroom. When police personnel told Mailk that his name was not included in the list and he was not allowed to enter the courtroom, Malik exchanged harsh words with police personnel.
The court official complained against Malik for abusing outside the court. On his complaint, the judge called Musadik Malik on rostrum and expressed anger on his harsh words exchanged with the officials. The court after hearing the arguments of both the sides extended the judicial remand of all three accused till November 19.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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