Court extends judicial remand of Abbasi till 21st

Also prolongs Iqbal’s remand till 13th in Narowal Sports City Scam case

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday extended the judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) corruption case till January 21.

The hearing was resumed by the court of Azam Khan, while all the accused, including Abbasi, Miftah Ismail, Sheikh Imranul Haq, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Chairperson Uzma Adil and others were also present in the court. Counsel Barrister Zafar Ullah appeared before the court on behalf of the former PM.

In their petitions, the ex-finance minister and two other suspects sought permanent exemption from the court appearance in the aforementioned case, against which the court issued notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) directing it to present its arguments till January 13.

The court after listening to the parties extended the judicial remand of Abbasi till January 21 and also ordered NAB for provision of copies of reference to the accused.

Meanwhile the accountability court also extended the physical remand of another Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal till January 13 in Narowal Sports City Scam case.

Iqbal was facing the charges of his alleged involvement and misusing of powers for illegally increasing the cost of sports city project, which was increased from “Rs300 million to Rs1,000 million without obtaining permission for the project from departments concerned”.

At the outset of the hearing, NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi pleaded the court for 14 days remand by disclosing that evidences were available against Iqbal in such project and NAB needed more time for interrogation.

Iqbal’s counsel Barrister Zafar Ullah opposed NAB’s stance and said his client was being politically victimised as there was no evidence against his client.

After listening to the parties, the court extended Iqbal’s physical remand till January 13 and ordered NAB to produce him before the court on the day and also ordered to furnish arguments in the next hearing.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP