Islamabad, (TLTP): The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Narowal Sports City (NSC) Project cases respectively.
Granting bail to both the PML-N diehards, a division bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Lubna Saleem Pervez directed the accused persons to furnish surety bonds of worth Rs 10 million each.
Allowing bail applications of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and PML-leader Ahsan Iqbal, the bench said in written orders that reasons for granting bail would be recorded later.
Opposing the bail applications during course of hearing before the division bench, the NAB prosecutor submitted a 24-page reply in the matter, saying release of the accused persons on bail can harm investigations of the cases.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that it shows incompetence on part of the top anti-graft body’s investigation, saying anyone charged with an offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty.
The prosecutor submitted if both leaders of the PML-N were ready to hand over their passports to top anti-graft body and give assurance to appear before the NAB for investigation then Bureau will not oppose the bail pleas.
On July 18, 2019, the NAB arrested Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while en-route to Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore and filed references against him in LNG Re-gasification Terminal Contract signed by SSGC with ENGRO Elengy after a competitive PPRA compliant bid and tender process. The NAB arrested senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal on December 23 last from the top anti-graft body’s Rawalpindi office where he had appeared to record statement in the alleged corruption case in NSC Project.
