ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday fixed a petition filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi over alleged corruption in the award of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import contract in his capacity as federal minister for petroleum and natural resources back in 2015. Barrister Latif Khosa had filed the petition, requesting the apex court to order the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to take action against Abbasi in this regard. The court will hear the plea on February 12.
The petition states that importing LNG without agreement was illegal, calling into question the integrity of Prime Minister Abbasi. It points out that transparency is a must when awarding contracts of public interest. It alleged that the prime minister indulged in massive corruption in the LNG contract awarded in 2015 as the minister for petroleum and natural resources. The counsel further requested the court to order the National Accountability Bureau to initiate investigation against Abbasi in this regard.
The petitioner prayed to the top court to declare it as a matter of fundamental rights. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, will take up the petition on February 12.
Published in Daily Times, February 10th 2018.
