LNG import case: NAB files reference against Shahid Khaqan, Miftah

RAWALPINDI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a reference with an Islamabad accountability court against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the LNG import contract case.

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has also been nominated in the reference, which stated that former secretary of the petroleum ministry had turned approver in the case.

Seven co-accused in the reference including Miftah Ismail, ex-chairman Ogra Saeed Ahmed Khan, Ogra chairperson Uzma Adil Khan, chairman Engro Group Hussain Dawood, former chairman PQA Agha JanAkhtar, former member Ogra Aamir Naseem, former PSO MD Shahid M Islam and Abdul Samad have also been nominated.

The reference alleges that the accused had benefited the company with Rs21 billion through a contract between March 2015 through September 2019, causing a loss of Rs47 billion to the national exchequer. The NAB’s reference stated that contract will put additional burden of over Rs68 billion on the masses in shape of gas bills in 15 years.