Miftah Ismail, Shahid Khaqan sent to jail on judicial remand

• On September 12, court allowed ‘final extension’ in Shahid Khaqan, Miftah Ismail’s remand.
• Abbasi and Ismail were arrested on July 18 and August 4 in LNG case.
• NAB threatened two officers to become approvers in the case, Abbasi tells court.

An accountability court sent on Thursday former finance minister Miftah Ismail and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) case.

During the hearing presided by Judge Mohammad Bashir, both the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-) leaders were presented before the court by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The accountability watchdog requested for an extension in the physical remand of the PML-N leaders. The court has directed that Ismail and Abbasi be presented before the court on October 11.

However, the court rejected the request and sent the leaders to jail on judicial remand, local media reported. Abbasi, who is representing himself in the case, submitted a nine-point defence statement to the court.

The former PM told the judge that the bureau had threatened two officers to become approvers in the case. Abbasi also told the court that it can give NAB an extension in his physical remand and the bureau has 'created a banana republic'.

During the last hearing on September 12, the accountability court had allowed final extension in the physical remand of the two PML-N leaders.