Rasheed moves ECP for disqualification of prime minister

ISLAMABAD: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Thursday moved the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) calling for disqualification of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for allegedly awarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract at exorbitant rates.

He filed a reference with the ECP, requesting it to disqualify the prime minister for allegedly being dishonest for awarding the LNG contract at the excessive rates in his capacity as the minister for petroleum and natural resources. He further asked for placement of his name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

While speaking to media, he alleged that Abbasi was the main beneficiary of the alleged scam in the award of the LNG contract. Thus, he was no more Sadiq (honest) and Ameen (trustworthy) to remain in office.

If model Ayyan Ali’s name could be put on the ECL for allegedly trying to smuggle currency worth five lac dollars and she could be sent behind bars, why can’t Abbasi, he questioned.

Rasheed said that if the ECP rejected his reference he would go to the Supreme Court against the prime minister.

Earlier, the AML chairman approached the Supreme Court against the national anti-graft watchdog for failing to file an appeal in the court for re-investigation of Hudaibiya Papers Mills case.

Sheikh Rasheed petitioned the apex court, requesting it to order the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to re-investigate the case.

He submitted in the petition that the NAB chairman had assured the top court on July 21 to file the appeal within a week, and it made his statement as part of its order, but he has failed to do so in defiance of his assurance.

Of late, he said, he sent a notice to the chairman to comply with court orders, but he failed to respond.

Quoting the media reports, the petitioner said, the anti-graft body had decided not to file the appeal. A Joint Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate the Sharif family’s offshore properties held that Hudaibiya Papers Mills case warranted further investigation and accused ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar of whitening the money and taking it out of the country.

Rasheed said the JIT produced corroborative evidences against Sharif family with regard to money laundering, which they did not deny. Nevertheless, the NAB was dragging its feet to seek court’s permission to reopen the case, he added.

He claimed that the NAB chairman and its prosecutor general were under influence of powerful elites, and requested the court to initiate contempt of court against them for disobeying court order.