ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has set a date for hearing a petition against Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, which alleges that he received kickbacks in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) deal.

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had requested the top court to take action against Abbasi for his alleged involvement in corruption cases linked to the LNG agreement.

He had also asked the court to annul the LNG deal and disqualify Abbasi as the prime minister and member of the National Assembly.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar will preside over a three-member bench which will begin proceedings from Feb.12.

Earlier, the AML chief had said that the prime minister had bought the energy resource at inflated prices, misguiding the Pakistani taxpayers, and making billions in the process.

“Abbasi has not remained Sadiq and Ameen as he, among others, signed an agreement to buy Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) which involved irregularities of up to Rs200 billion,” Rasheed alleged.

SEVERAL TYCOONS

The agreement, in addition to several business tycoons, included former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar, whom, Rasheed said, have been named in the plea.

Abbasi has always stated that he was open to investigation by any court or institution and was prepared to answer all questions.

He says if anybody has anything illegal against him he should go to a court and prove it.

He said he has never committed any corruption throughout his political career spanning over three decades when he had held different official positions.