ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court dismissed on Monday Awami Muslim League chiefSheikh Rasheed’s disqualification petition against Prime Minister ShahidKhaqan Abbasi.Rasheed, an ally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had petitioned the apexcourt over alleged corruption in the award of a contract for the import ofliquefied natural gas (LNG) when Abbasi was the federal petroleum ministerand sought a NAB inquiry against him as well as disqualification fromParliament.
As a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice MianSaqib Nisar took up the petition, the court observed that the matter doesnot fall under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, related to protectionof fundamental rights under which the apex court takes up cases. The benchruled that the case can be taken to the National Accountability Bureau(NAB), which is an independent institution.Justice Ijazul Ahsan added that NAB can summon the respondents if it deemsfit.
Moreover, the bench inquired as to how, under the petition, the premier canbe deemed not to be truthful and honest as per Article 62 of theConstitution.
Dismissing the petition, the chief justice remarked that they do not wantto repeat the history of Reko Diq, Karkey and Pakistan Steel Mills cases.He added that the petitioner should know what those decisions cost Pakistanin the eyes of the world.Rasheed has been claiming since Abbasi’s election as prime minister inAugust this year that the former petroleum minister is guilty ofmulti-billion rupee corruption.
Moreover, prior to today’s hearing in the apex court, PTI chief Imran Khantweeted that “hopefully today details about the LNG deal will be madepublic in the SC. The nation desperately awaits as the secrecy surroundingthis multi billion dollar deal with Qatar has aroused all manner ofsuspicions”.
The petition was filed through senior lawyer Barrister Sardar Latif Khosaand requested the apex court to order NAB to take action against Abbasi.
The petition states that Abbasi awarded the LNG import contract in 2015without observing transparency in the bidding process.
It also requested the apex court to disqualify Abbasi as a member of theNational Assembly under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
Rasheed also pleaded the court to task NAB to probe the LNG importcontracts as they were commissioned in violation of rules.