Army Act amendment bill: Government responsible for delay in passage: Abbasi

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday held the government responsible for delay in passage of the amendment to the Pakistan Army Act.

Talking to journalists after attending the proceedings in the LNG terminal case at the accountability court, the former premier in response to a question about delay in passage of bills related to Armed Forces said that the government should answer these questions as the problems have been created by the government itself. "The amendment contains some flaws and these should be rectified in the standing committees," he said.

To another question, he said that laws should be examined carefully before passage.

When he was asked if the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has taken him into confidence before supporting the bill, he said that his party first considers the bill and then supports it.

Earlier, Abbasi was produced before Accountability Court Judge Azeem Khan on expiry of his judicial remand in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) case. Former finance minister Miftah Ismail and ex-managing director (MD) Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imran-ul-Haque, former chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Aamir Naseem, former member oil OGRA, Uzma Adil Khan, and other accused also appeared before the court in the same case.

The court marked attendance of all the accused and extended judicial remand of Abbasi till January 21.

Barrister Zaffaraullah submitted his power of attorney to represent Abbasi in the case. Ismail and other two accused filed applications seeking exemption from personal appearance before the court.

The judge said that copies of reference will be provided to the accused on the next hearing.