Ex-PM Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal granted bail in corruption cases.

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court Tuesday granted bail to former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal in separate corruption cases.

Abbasi was granted bail in the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) case while Iqbal was granted bail in the Narowal Sports City corruption case.

A two-member bench under IHC Chief Justice Athar Minullah heard the cases and granted bails against bonds worth Rs 10 million each.

In its written orders, the court said that the investigation officer may 'impose such conditions as he deems appropriate' to secure cooperation and presence of the petitioners during their respective inquiries.

During the hearing of Abbasi's bail petition, Chief Justice Minallah remarked that the government took a grant from another country (United States) for help, and the country itself hired a firm. "Public funds were not used for the project; USAID funds were used instead ... Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules are not applicable in this case," he said, and questioned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor about whether the foreign ministry had been asked about USAID.

The prosecutor informed the court that the watchdog was acquiring records from the ministry. He further said that Abbasi had purchased LNG at expensive rates. The chief justice then questioned the prosecutor whether NAB had researched if any company could be given the terminal's contract at cheaper rates. Referring to a letter submitted by the anti-graft watchdog, Justice Minallah remarked that NAB cannot mention a company providing services at a cheaper rate if it did not participate in the bidding.

Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the IHC's ruling. The decision was taken during a meeting on Tuesday chaired by NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal.

Separately, during a hearing of Ahsan Iqbal's bail petition...