ISLAMABAD: Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed submitted on Thursday a reference against Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The AML chief also spoke to media afterwards. He said that if the petition is not paid adequate heed then he will approach the Supreme Court in this regard.

He said that the Liquified Natural Gas issue is similar to a sea of corruption.

Sheikh Rasheed expressed hope that the ECP would hear the reference that he submitted today.

He said that the it is likely that new cases will surface as the departure of Nawaz from the prime minister?s office has opened a gateway.

Sheikh Rasheed, one of the three petitioners in the Panama Papers case, had submitted a petition in the SC against NAB's failure to reopen the Hudaibiya Paper Mill case. 

Order NAB to reopen Hudaibiya case, AML chief petitions SC

Sheikh Rasheed says failure to do so would strengthen money laundering in the country

According to media reports, Abbasi, who was former minister for petroleum and natural resources, faced 17-month long inquiry under the NAB in relation to corruption of Rs220 billion during 2013.

At the beginning of this month, the NAB cleared the former petroleum minister of any involvement in the case.

Abbasi was elected as the country's premier earlier this month following Nawaz Sharif's disqualification.

At present, Abbasi also retains the portfolio of the newly-formed 'energy ministry', which incorporated the ministries of power and petroleum.