National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Miftah Ismail, former finance minister, in connection with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) scam. Sources said that NAB has also asked Ismail to bring all record related to LNG import and appear before an investigation team at the Bureau's Rawalpindi office on January 11. The Bureau also warned him that failure to comply with the notice may entail penal consequences as provided in Serial 2 of the schedule of NAO 1999.

The NAB on January 2 started investigation against former prime minister and petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for alleged misuse of power with respect to LNG terminal project. The Bureau approved launching an investigation against Abbasi who served former petroleum minister, Arshad Mirza, former secretary ministry of petroleum, Sheikh Imranul Haq, former managing director PSO, and other officials in its Executive Board Meeting (EBM) presided over by NAB Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal (retd).

The Supreme Court on September 10, 2018 directed NAB to complete inquiry into the matter and submit its report.

The case was registered in 2015 on the complaint of Shahid Sattar, an energy expert, at NAB Karachi, against Abbasi for awarding the LNG import contract which allegedly caused a huge loss to national exchequer.

In February last, the Supreme Court of Pakistan fixed a plea filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed seeking disqualification of Abbasi over alleged corruption in the award of LNG import contract. The petition requested the SC to order NAB to take action against Abbasi in this regard.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019