ISLAMABAD: An accountability court of Islamabad on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi till Feb 4 in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal reference.

Besides, the court also deferred Khaqan Abbasi and ex-finance minister Miftah Ismail and other accused indictment till the next date of hearing.

When the accountability judge Azam Khan resumed the proceeding in the reference, he was told that an accused Shahid Islam was an absconder he could not be produced.

The judge asked the prosecution to submit a report against the absconder so the other accused may be indicted.

Miftah Ismail did not appear before the court since he has already been given exemption from personal attendance.

However, ex-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was produced in the court.

The court directed chairperson Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Uzma Adil and her predecessor Saeed Ahmed Khan to submit Rs10 million each as surety bonds in order to ensure their presence before the court.

Talking to journalists, Abbasi said that it has become difficult for a common man to purchase flour (atta).

Besides flour, he said, the sugar and daily use items prices were going up on daily basis.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2020