Shahid Khaqan Abbasi demands disbanding of NAB

ISLAMABAD : Hearing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LNG) scandal against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was adjourned without any proceedings till September 7. The hearing was adjourned due to unavailability of AC Judge Azam Khan. Talking to media men after appearing before the court, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwart said despite passage of 13 months, he has not been provided with the copy of reference. The erstwhile premier talked to media and said every institution is facing decline at present and people are in trouble.  “I handed over every transaction of my family and mine to the NAB. My son and I paid taxes through our accounts. PML-N did not dissolve the NAB as a single party could not do it,” Abbasi said. “The incumbent government could not appoint head of any institution in two years. No one is willing to work for this regime.” Khaqan also thanked National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for inducting him in the list of billionaires.  Replying to a question, the former prime minister ruled out allegations of money laundering and stated that he and his son paid all the taxes and the money in their accounts is legitimate. He demanded disbanding of NAB. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Miftah Ismail, ex-PSO MD Imranul Haq and others are facing charges of corruption over awarding a LNG import contract allegedly at exorbitant rates in 2015, which caused a big loss to the national exchequer. NAB sources said that Abbasi, in 2013, had awarded a LNG import and distribution contract to the Elengy Terminal in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws.  The hearing of the case pertaining to the LNG contract corruption was adjourned till September 7 without any proceedings.