All LNG reference co-accused summoned by AC

The Accountability Court on Monday summoned all the 10 co-accused in the LNG (liquefied natural gas) reference on January 6 and extended the judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex-finance minister Miftah Ismail till then (January 6).

During the proceedings of the case, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir inquired about the accused in LNG reference other than Abbasi and Ismail. The counsel of the two accused told the court that the co-accused were neither arrested by the NAB (National Accountability Bureau) nor had the court issued them any notice for appearance (in the court).

The judge directed that all the co-accused in LNG case be issued notices to appear before the Accountability Court on January 6. He also extended judicial remand of Abbasi and Miftah till January 6.

The co-accused in the LNG reference include Chairperson Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Uzma Adil Khan, former chairman OGRA Saeed Ahmad Khan, former chairman Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Agha Jan Akhtar, former member OGRA Aamir Naseem, former managing director Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Shahid Islam, former MD PSO Sheikh Imranul Haque, Chairman Engro Corporation Hussain Dawood and Director Engro Corporation Abdul Samad Dawood.

Earlier on Thursday (December 12), the NAB filed the LNG reference against the 10 accused including the former PM and the ex-finance minister.

According to the NAB reference, one company had been provided benefits of over Rs 21 billion from March 2015 to September 2019. The benefits provided to the company will incur loss of Rs 47 billion to national exchequer because the contract would continue till 2029, the reference said.

The reference says that the contract will cost the public more than Rs 68 billion over 15 years in terms of gas bills.

Former MD PSO Haque had allegedly played an important role in signing of the contract.

The NAB arrested Abbasi on July 18 this year while the anti-graft body arrested Miftah on August 7.