NAB re-files LNG reference

The reference stated that the national exchequer would suffer a loss of Rs47b by 2029 because of LNG contract

The National Accountability Bureau on Thursday after addressing the objections raised by the registrar office of the accountability court re-filed the reference nominating former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and nine others as accused.

The reference consisting of 8,000 papers was transferred to Accountability Court number 2 from Accountability Court number 1.

The reference stated that the national exchequer would suffer a loss of Rs47billon by 2029 because of the LNG contract.

It further said that one company received benefits of over Rs21 billion between March 2015 and September 2019.

The reference said that the LNG deal would cost the public a burden of more than Rs68 billion in 15 years in terms of gas bills.

Beside Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) board chairman Miftah Ismail, former Engro Elengy Terminal Private Limited (EETPL)  chief executive officer and former Pakistan State Oil (PSO) managing director Sheikh Imranul Haq, former Port Qasim Authority (PQA) chairman Agha Jan Akhtar, former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairman Saeed Ahmad Khan, former OGRA member Aamir Naseem, OGRA Chairperson Uzma Adil Khan, former PSO managing director Shahid Aslam and Engro Group Chairman Hussain Dawood have also been named in the reference.

Former secretary and petroleum managing director has become a key witness in the case.

Justice Azam Khan of Accountability Court number 2 will hear the case on December 16.

Abbasi is accused of awarding a 15-year contract for a terminal against the rules when he was the petroleum minister in former premier Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet. The case was closed by NAB in 2016 but then reopened in 2018.

On January 2, NAB’s executive board authorised investigations against Abbasi, being former minister for petroleum and natural resources, for his alleged involvement in irregularities in the import of LNG.