LNG case: NAB arrests Miftah Ismail as IHC rejects bail plea

By Muhammad YaseenPublished On 05 Jan 2023

ISLAMABAD (9Newshd): The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has Wednesday arrested former Finance Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail and former Managing Director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq in the LNG case after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected their bail plea.

A two-member bench of the IHC conducted the hearing during which Miftah Ismail’s counsel took the stance that the anti-graft agency is misusing its authority which will be considered as dishonesty.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani inquired that was Miftah Ismail involved in price negotiations of the LNG contract, to which the lawyer answered that his client was one of the eight members of the committee which determined the rate.

LNG contract with Qatar was already finalized before Miftah Ismail assumed his office and the LNG terminal was constructed afterwards for which the incumbent government overpaid, the counsel argued.

The anti-corruption watchdog detained both leaders inside the court premises after the bail petition was turned down.

On July 25, the Islamabad High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to PML-N leader Miftah Ismail till August 1 in the LNG case. The court ordered former finance minister to submit surety bonds of Rs 5 lacs.

In the next hearing, the interim bail petition of Miftah Ismail was extended by the IHC till August 7. For more latest news Pakistan, visit 9newshd.tv