Plea to disqualify Pak PM Abbasi in LNG import case dismissed

Pakistan's Supreme Court today dismissed a petition seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi alleging corruption in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts struck under his watch in 2015.
The petition filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, had alleged that Abbasi awarded the LNG import contract in 2015 as the petroleum minister without observing transparency in the bidding process.
Ahmed had also sought an inquiry by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against 59-year-old Abbasi as well as disqualification from Parliament.
After hearing the arguments presented by Rashid's counsel, senior lawyer Latif Khosa, the top court ruled that the petition did not fall within the ambit of Article 184(3) of the Constitution, which empowers the court to enforce citizens' fundamental rights, Dawn newspaper reported.

The dismissal of the case comes months after the apex court disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case. Abbasi became prime minister after the exit of Sharif.