ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court Monday issued notices to the accused named in the supplementary reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and others in connection with the liquefied natural gas case.
The Accountability Court judge, Muhammad Azam Khan, while hearing the case, issued notices to the accused named in the supplementary reference to appear before on December 22.
Former prime minister Abbasi was present in the court during the hearing. The NAB prosecutor told the court that the supplementary reference had been filed against Abbasi and other accused. He said that the accused persons could obtain the copy of supplementary reference.
What can be done about those accused who have not appeared before the court, he further said. The judge said that notices would be issued to those who did not appear before it.
The court issued summons to five accused and asked them to appear before it during the next hearing to be held on December 22nd. The bureau has nominated Abbasi, Abdul Khaqan Abbasi son of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former finance minister Miftah Ismail, ex-managing director (MD) Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imranul Haque, Agha Jan Akhtar, former chairman Port Qasim Authority (PQA), and Saeed Ahmed Khan, former chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) in the supplementary reference.
The other accused include, Aamir Naseem, former member oil OGRA, Uzma Adil Khan, chairperson OGRA, Shahid M Islam, former MD PSO, and Abdul Samad Dawood Director Engro Corporation Limited, Hussain Dawood Chairman Engro Corporation Limited, M/S QED Consultant UK through its MD Phillip Nutman, Maverick Advisory through its CEO Sana Sadiq, Muhammad Amin MD Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) and Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam.
The NAB had filed interim reference in the LNG scam in December last year. Those who are nominated in the reference for allegedly misusing their authority include, Abbasi, Ismail, ex-MD PSO Sheikh Imranul Haque, Agha Jan Akhtar, former chairman Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Saeed Ahmed Khan, former chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Aamir Naseem, former member oil OGRA, Uzma Adil Khan, chairperson OGRA, Shahid M Islam, former MD PSO, and Abdul Samad Dawood.
After appearing before the court Abbasi, while talking to media, said that the party has advised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif to return to the country after completing his treatment.
"It is his (Nawaz Sharif) basic right to get treatment," he said, adding that Sharif would go to hospital, when the doctor would conduct his surgery. He said that medical reports of Sharif had been submitted before the court as well as with the government.
Abbasi further said that that was a fact that Imran Khan was a "selected prime minister". "A truth commission should be set up, so that mistakes were not repeated in the future," he demanded.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020