ISLAMABAD: The executive board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday approved the initiation of investigation against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. A press release by the probe body said that the Khaqan will be probed about his tenure as a former federal petroleum minister. In June this year, the NAB approved initiation of an inquiry against Abbasi and former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and over alleged misuse of power regarding a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project, the agency said. In a NAB executive board meeting chaired by chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, the accountability body gave a go-ahead to the probe against Nawaz, Abbasi, who served as minister for petroleum during Nawaz’s tenure before assuming charge of PM office, and others “for granting a 15-year contract of LNG terminal to a company of their liking in violation of rules and by misuse of their powers, which caused national exchequer a loss of billions of rupees”. In addition, NAB also approved initiation of probe against former petroleum secretary Arshad Mirza, former managing director Pakistan State Oil Sheikh Imranul Haq, Deputy MD PSO Yaqub Sattar and former Bank of Punjab president Naeemuddin Khan. The EBM also accorded approval to conduct 20 inquiries against various personalities, including Mian Imtiaz, former member National Assembly, Mian Ibrahim, Mian Ehaz Aamir, Sohail Anwer Sial, former provincial interior minister, Ali Anwar Sial, Jam Khan Shoro, former provincial minister local bodies, Zahid Ali Bargari, former provincial minister, Abdul Jabbar Khan, former political consultant, Ali Usman, Stock Brokerage Private Limited, Khalida Anwar, M Usman Tasadduq, Justice (r) Malik Muhammad Qayyum, Farooq Awan, former secretary Ministry of Information Technology, Messers Gold Transmit Network Technology Private Limited, Karachi and Messers Green Apple Super Market, Private Limited, Lahore, Shahid Malik, Shahbaz Yasin Malik, Saima Shahbaz Malik, owners of Hilton Pharma Limited, Messers D Baloch, Tariq Awan, former secretary Workers Welfare Board , Fareedullah, secretary Workers Welfare Board, officers/ officials of Workers Welfare Board Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Liaquat Ali Bhatti, SDO, education. Speaking on the occasion, NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal said that the bureau believes in corruption-free Pakistan. All resources are being utilized to take mega corruption cases to logical conclusion, he said. NAB’s priority is to eliminate corruption, arresting proclaimed offenders and making them answerable, he said, adding that effective measures were being taken to ensure the recovery of the amount looted by various housing societies. He directed the staff to conduct complaint verification against corrupt elements within the prescribed time frame in accordance with law. Published in Daily Times, January 3rd 2019