Sheikh Rasheed moves ECP to disqualify Prime Minister Abbasi

ISLAMABAD - Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed on Thursday filed a reference against Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi with the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking his disqualification.

Rasheed has pleaded the ECP to disqualify PM Abbasi and put his name on Exit Control List (ECL) on not being honest after his alleged involvement in awarding a Rs220 billion contract for the import and distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2013.

Talking to media after submitting the reference, the AML head said that he will move the Supreme Court if it is dismissed by the ECP.

Terming LNG scandal a case of mega corruption, he claimed that billions of rupees were minted under this agreement.

Sheikh Rasheed, who was a petitioner in the Panama Papers case against former PM Nawaz Sharif, had also moved the SC against NAB for not reopening the Hudaibiya Paper Mill case.

It is important to mention here that Abbasi, former petroleum minister, remained in hot waters for 17 months due to an inquiry launched by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Rs220 billion scam during 2013.

The NAB has given clean chit to former petroleum minister in this case with the start of this month, August.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi held the office of prime minister following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif on July 28.