Shahid-Khaqan-Talk-Lhr-12-11-640x439Former Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has been asked to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), on April 2, with reference to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract scam. In a notice issued on Thursday, he was summoned in a NAB case instituted against his alleged award of an LNG import contract at exorbitant rates in 2015. He is said to have caused a potential $2 billion loss to the national exchequer through this act.
When he last appeared before the accountability watchdog on March 26, a team led by NAB’s Combined Investigation Team, Malik Zubair, had quizzed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader in the scandal. Failing to provide the required document, Abbasi sought time from the NAB in this regard. He responded to the NAB officials, “Need some time to hand over the documents.” The bureau had sought details of his assets.
The former premier is accused of misusing his powers during his tenure as petroleum minister. The case was registered against him on a complaint by an energy expert, Shahid Sattar on July 29, 2015. Sattar is the former member of the Planning Commission and the SSGC board of directors.