RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a case pertaining to liquefied natural gas (LNG) import scam.
While talking to media outside the NAB’s office, Abbasi said he would present the record to the investigation team as he has received answers of certain questions via a letter sent to the secretary petroleum regarding the ongoing inquiry.
“It would be a disappointment if the bureau arrests me,” he said.
While replying to a question, Abbasi regretted the recent row between PTI leaders Jahangir Khan Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi and said that they should work for the country rather than engaging in personal vendettas.
The apex court in September last, directed the anti-graft watchdog to complete inquiry against Abbasi and accomplices for the alleged corruption in the LNG contract.
According to NAB documents, the contract for the import and distribution of the LNG was awarded in 2013 to the Elengy Terminal — a subsidiary of Engro Corporation — in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant regulations.
In June 2018, the NAB approved inquiry against former premier Nawaz Sharif and Abbasi, then the minister for petroleum and natural resources, in granting contract of LNG terminal to their ‘favourite’ company for a period of 15 years. The contract had allegedly caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.
The NAB also interrogated former finance minister Miftah Ismail in the same case.
