LNG contract: Rasheed submits important documents in NAB against Khaqan Abbasi
- By Shah Khalid -
- Mar 15, 2019
RAWALPINDI: Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Friday submitted important documents in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in a case pertaining to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) contract scam.
Rasheed appeared before the accountability body Rawalpindi chapter as a complainant against Khaqan Abbasi.
Speaking to journalists outside the NAB office, the minister said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi played an important role in the LNG contract award which cost loss of billion of rupees to national exchequer.
“Ready to cooperate with the anti-graft watchdog body for the probe into the scandal”, Sheikh vowed.
Rasheed had filed an application with the Chairman NAB Justice (rtd) Javed Iqbal, urging him to initiate inquiry into LNG import contract with Qatar, accusing Abbasi of corrupt practices.
Earlier on March 7, Abbasi did not appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with a probe into the case.
Read more: LNG scam: NAB seeks details of Shahid Khaqan’s assets
NAB is probing a case instituted against Abbasi in 2015 for allegedly awarding a LNG import contract at exorbitant rates, which caused a potential $2 billion loss to the national exchequer.
It accused Abbasi of misusing his powers during his stint as petroleum minister. The case was registered on a complaint by Shahid Sattar – an energy expert and former member of the Planning Commission and the SSGC board of directors – on July 29, 2015.
According to the bureau, the contract for the LNG import and distribution was awarded to the Elengy Terminal in 2013 in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws.