The Accountability Court on Tuesday extended judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi till February 4 in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) case.
Jail authorities produced Abbasi before the Accountability Court Judge Azam Khan on expiry of his judicial remand. Other accused of the case also appeared before the court. The court marked attendance of all the accused including ex-managing director (MD) Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imran-ul-Haque and extended judicial remand of Abbasi till February 4.
Other accused including former finance minister Miftah Ismail, Hussain Dawood, Agha Jan Akhtar and Abdullah Dawood did not appear before the court as the court granted them permanent exemption from personnel appearance before it.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on December 26 granted bail to Ismail and he was released from Adiala Jail on bail after furnishing surety bonds worth Rs 10 million. The court asked both Chairperson Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Uzma Adil Khan and former chairman OGRA Saeed Ahmed Khan to submit surety bonds worth Rs 10 million each and ensure their presence in the court.
The court also summoned a report regarding arrest warrants of absconding accused Shahid M Islam, former MD PSO, from National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The court observed that due to one absconding accused, the charges cannot be framed. Following submission of arrest warrants report of Shahid M Islam, the proceedings of the case will move ahead, said the judge.
Abbasi while talking to reporters after the hearing denied his annoyance with his party leadership. "What could be my annoyance with anyone?" he questioned.
Criticizing the present government, he said those who voted for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are bearing the brunt of Naya Pakistan. "Flour price surged to Rs 70 per kg in Naya Pakistan," he said, adding that they - PTI government - are to be ashamed of their failure and they need to be ashamed over non-availability of flour in the county.
He said that everyone should remember that every day of this government will be heavy for the people.
Comments
Comments are closed.