ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau summoned Miftah Ismail on June 20 for awarding controversial contracts for the sale of natural gas liquids (NGL).
The NAB on June 14 initiated an inquiry and sent a call notice to the former finance minister. He’s been summoned to explain “allegation(s) of corruption and corrupt practices by officials of the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) in awarding of natural national assets to private company Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJLV).”
Ismail chaired the board of directors meeting in which these tenders were approved. According to NAB, five previous tenders were handed to JJVL which violated a Supreme Court’s verdicts on the matter. Ismail also served as chairman of the SSGCL from November 2013 to November 2017, and has been summoned by NAB in this capacity.
He joins a tirade of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders who are facing NAB investigations. Many lawmakers and ministers belonging to the party are currently making rounds of NAB including former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, Nawaz Sharif, former foreign minister Khawaja Asif, former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal and even Nawaz’s son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar and daughter Maryam.
Ismail will also be running for a National Assembly seat in the upcoming general elections July 25. He served as finance minister for a mere 50 days being appointed hours before the federal budget of 2018 was announced on the floor of the Lower House.
