Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appears before NAB for a brief hearing

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday in connection to the inquiry of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract.

The former prime minister after a hearing of 25 minutes at the NAB bureau office Rawalpindi returned back.

“You have returned earlier (from the NAB hearing) are you happy,” a reporter asked the former prime minister and PML-N leader. “I always remain happy. Are you disappointed?” Abbasi retorted.

“Did you answer all questions,” the scribe asked. “I have answers of all their questions,” the former prime minister replied. “Will the NAB call you again,” a newsman further asked from Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

“I will come whenever they call me,” Abbasi replied.

NAB is probing a case filed against Abbasi in 2015 for allegedly awarding a LNG import contract at exorbitant rates, which caused big loss to the national exchequer.

It accused Abbasi of misusing his authority during his stint as petroleum minister. The case was registered on a complaint by Shahid Sattar – an energy expert and former member of the Planning Commission and the SSGC board of directors – on July 29, 2015.

According to the bureau, the contract for the LNG import and distribution was awarded to the Elengy Terminal in 2013 in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws.