ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed on Monday a petition filed byAwami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed, seeking disqualification ofPrime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi over alleged corruption in the award ofa liquefied natural gas (LNG) import contract.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar,heard the plea, filed through Barrister Latif Khosa, requesting the topcourt to order the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate actionagainst Abbasi in this regard.

The bench observed that the case did not fall under preview of Article 184(3) of the Constitution. “We do not want a repeat of Reko Diq, PakistanSteels Mills wherein the country suffered huge financial loss due to courtintervention,” the CJP observed.

Justice Nisar added that the petitioner might approach NAB about thematter. “We believe that NAB is an independent body,” he said. “Let NABtake care of it.”

The CJP stressed that the top court shall not interfere in matters ofpolitical nature.

The petition accused the premier of corruption in the LNG contract awardedin 2015 as the minister for petroleum and natural resources. It stated thatimporting LNG without an agreement was illegal, calling into question theintegrity of PM Abbasi. It said transparency was a must when awardingcontracts of public importance.