Miftah approaches IHC for pre-arrest bail, rejects NAB allegations

Ex-finance minister contends NAB is trying to "nail persons sought to be victimised by the current powers that be"

ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Miftah Ismail, who is facing arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the LNG import contract case, approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for pre-arrest bail on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader's application was submitted a day before the end of the seven-day protective bail he secured from the Sindh High Court last week.

Citing the NAB chairman and law secretary as respondents, Ismail's application contends that the anti-graft body should be barred from arresting him until it completes the investigation and files a reference.

In the plea, the former finance minister has also rejected NAB's allegations against him and other co-accused, asserting that there is "not even an iota of any evidence of wrongdoing in the award or any other ancillary matter related to the LNG contract/tender".

The application further states that "NAB is indulging in a continued fishing expedition to unearth some wrongdoing to nail onto the persons sought to be victimised by the current powers that be."

Ismail and former Pakistan State Oil (PSO) CEO Sheikh Imranul Haque had acquired seven-day protective bail from the SHC on July 19.

A day earlier, on July 18, NAB had arrested senior PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the LNG import contract case and issued arrest warrants for Ismail and Haque.

NAB  teams in Karachi and Islamabad were dispatched to arrest Ismail. His Karachi residence was raided but Ismail was not present at the house.