National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today (Thursday) in connection with alleged corruption in liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract. An official source said that NAB''s combined investigation team (CIT) summoned Abbasi for recording his statement over his alleged corruption in the LNG contract award. According to the NAB''s call-up notice, "The competent authority has taken cognizance of an offence committed by you under the provision of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 on the allegation of deceitfully, fraudulently and dishonestly causing loss to the national exchequer, misuse of authority and obtaining pecuniary advantage through corrupt, dishonest and illegal means during the award of LNG Terminal-I."
It said, "The investigation has revealed that you are in possession of information and evidence regarding award of LNG Terminal-I to M/s EETPL, etc, which relate to the commission of the said offence."
The NAB on January 2 had converted an inquiry into investigation against Abbasi for alleged misuse of powers with respect to the LNG terminal project. The Bureau approved launching an investigation against Abbasi, who served as former petroleum minister, Arshad Mirza, former secretary petroleum, Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq, former managing director Pakistan State Oil (PSO), and other officials at its Executive Board Meeting (EBM) presided over by Chairman NAB former Justice Javed Iqbal on January 2 this year. The Supreme Court on September 10, 2018 had directed the NAB to complete inquiry into the matter and submit its report. The case was registered in 2015 on the complaint of Shahid Sattar, an energy expert at the NAB Karachi, against Abbasi for awarding the LNG import contract which allegedly caused a huge loss to the national exchequer. In February last year, the Supreme Court fixed a plea filed by President Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, seeking disqualification of Abbasi over alleged corruption in the award of LNG import contract. The petitioner requested the Supreme Court to order NAB to take action against Abbasi in this regard.
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