ISLAMABAD (DNA) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday extended the interim bail of former Finance Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail and former Managing Director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq in the LNG case till August 7.

Acting Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over the case. The IHC expressed anger over the miscellaneous application filed yesterday by Miftah Ismail to submit further documents and remarked why documents weren’t submitted earlier.

Justice Amir Farooq remarked that a strange process has started where six different misc applications are being filed. Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted a response on the interim bail petition of Miftah Ismail where the IHC extended it till August 7.

On July 25, Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday granted interim bail to PML-N leader Miftah Ismail till August 1 in LNG case. The court ordered former finance minister to submit surety bonds of Rs 5 lacs.

As per details, IHC barred NAB from arresting Miftah Ismail. The court also granted bail to ex-MD PSO Shiekh Imran and issued notices to NAB in this regard.

The lawyer of Miftah told the court that NAB issued warrants first and then summoned in the LNG case.

Earlier, former finance minister Miftah Ismail submitted an application for pre-arrest bail at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import contract case.

In his petition, the PML-N leader requested the Islamabad High Court to stop the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting him until the investigation is completed. The politician argued that the accountability watchdog has leveled allegations against him when there is ‘not even an iota of any evidence’ of wrongdoing in LNG case.

Miftah named NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal, the investigator and law secretary as respondents in his petition. Arguing that NAB has charged baseless charges against him, the former minister requested the IHC to grant him pre-arrest bail.

NAB has already issued arrest warrants of Miftah Ismail and Sheikh Imran Ul Haq in LNG case.

It is pertinent to mention here that the PML-N leader has already been granted pre-arrest bail by the Sindh High Court (SHC) for 7 days. His pre-arrest bail given by SHC will end this week.

Meanwhile IHC accepted the application of Miftah Ismail for hearing. A two member bench including Justice Mian Gull Hassan Aurangzeb and acting Chief justice of IHC Justice Amir Farooq heard the case on July 25.

Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is already in NAB’s custody in the LNG import contract case.