ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday arrested former finance minister Miftah Ismail from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after the court rejected his plea for an extension in his pre-arrest interim bail in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import case.

He was wanted by the NAB for inquiry against former petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the then secretary ministry of petroleum about award of LNG terminal-1 to Engro Energy Terminal Private Limited.

Miftah’s counsel argued that the accountability watchdog in the same court had said that they did not require to arrest his client then what was the compulsion now to arrest him.

A two-bench judge headed by IHC Chief Justice Justice Athar Minallah rejected the former minister’s bail saying that the court could grant bail only in NAB cases of hardship. Following the ruling, NAB officials arrested Miftah and took him away with them.

Also Read: SHC grants Miftah Ismail protective bail in LNG import case

On July 19, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had granted Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail a one-week protective bail, a day after the NAB team had raided his house to arrest him in LNG import case.

After arresting former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the same case, NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal had signed his arrest warrant and directed the NAB officials to take him into custody from Karachi.

Ismail had sought a pre-arrest bail plea from the high court. His lawyer Advocate Haider Waheed had said protective bail was sought so that his client could get time to contact the relevant court as the case was based in Islamabad. The bail had been accepted against the surety bonds worth Rs50,000.