During a hearing on Friday at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court, Judge Anwar Ahmed termed the charges "politically motivated" while clearing the Sharif family of all charges pertaining to Hudaibiya Paper Mills, Raiwind Palace and the ownership of illegal assets.
The references were filed with the Attock NAB court in March 2000 have been pending in the Accountability Court, Rawalpindi.
The Sharif brothers were accused of misusing their authority and accumulating wealth beyond their means. Other Sharif family members accused in the case include Nawaz's brother, Abbas Sharif, Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, his nephew Hamza Shahbaz, and his wife Kulsoom Nawaz.
A third reference was also filed against the Sharif family for willfully defaulting a bank loan regarding Ittefaq Foundry. A decision regarding acquittal in this case has yet to be made and the hearing of this case has been adjourned till October 2.
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It would be interesting for the public to know the cost of the Raiwand properties of the Sharifs & to then know their source of income plus how much INCOME TAX they had paid on that money. Similarly, the Income Tax paid information from the Bhutto & Zardari families must also be sought as also from all the elite whose life of luxury is not unknown to most people in the country & abroad. What is the status of Ishaq Dar case this article talks about?
"Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely". We need deliverance.
Seem the court ignored the affidavit of Mr Dar or what ? Then we expect the judiciary to favor the poor people ? the case against the Shariff`s SC attack is also awaiting verdict. when shall justice prevail ?
No wonder such action gives impetus to the people who want CHANGE.....
I am not surprised at all because they say democracy is best revenge so they are taking revenge against people of Pakistan
The greatest joke of the history.
reasons why you cant have fair anything under corrupt people .. and this took 14 years, seriously? guess they were just stalling for their turn to come to clear their names :p
Baffling questions, just 2 not more, need truthful answers at least from Saad Rafique or Pervaiz Rashid or Ch Nisar or Begum Kalsoom Nawaz but if none of them replies then of course honourable PM Nawaz Sharif himself to reply, if not annoying. (a) How many cases had been registered against Sharif brothers? (2) How many cases have already been quashed by the courts? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Diplomat / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
case was in courts for only 14 years, amazing penchant for swift justice all to save democratic belief of people in the current system. Decision was totally unexpected after 14 years.
Nooo, my submission is that the case presented before the court was weak as the required homework and fact finding efforts could not be done due to involvement of opposition in dealing with Azadi march . The court was also against the behaviour of the mob gathered by IK therefore declaired the decision otherwise it was well under their discreasion to keep the order reserved for a considerable period . This decision has given a much required moral support to the present government .
@Dr.A.K.Tewari: What an argument; the courts favoring Sharif because of IK agitation.... I thought judges decide cases based legal principles... now I know that if someone agitating they also effect legal decision of a court.
Court quashes cases against both brothers Nawaz Sharif, PM and Shahbaz Sharif, CM is quite but natural till they are on the throne but I doubt courts will do alike if this case comes up once PM and CM are no more in power. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Diplomat / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
My fellow citizens of Pakistan who are PML-N supporters, even if you dislike PTI, have some decency not to support this corrupt party any longer. Think rationally by ignoring any family or business associations you may have with this party.
If not for yourself, think about your country and future generations: a PML-N MNA's sons raping an innocent girl in Punjab, VVIP protocols that don't even allow ambulances to pass, judiciary that serves only the elite, Punjab Police that kills protestors and ignores the suffering of flood victims.... how much more proof do you want ???????
swift justice, Pakistan zindabad
@Danish Kamal: The entire proceedings be made public through media to ascertain judicial system & NAB
@Hunza wala: Sir, all they need a backbone :-)
NAB, FIA and all are under the criminal who they are investigating, how come the justice will prevail. Common sense. All criminals are at the same side while Qaid's Pakistan is on the receiving end. Time will come and Pakistan will rise. There is no importance of such verdicts, NROs etc.
The case became weak due to mal intension of Imran Khan to grab the power with the help of mob and nor with the help of mind . Otherwise this case would have given him political millage if not any thing else. The Court has also vindicated his support to the rulling party otherwise may have resered the discision for a considerable period . Now the on going criticism will further consolidate the position of Nawaz Sharif in the political affairs of Pakistan . Once again IK clean bold......
14 years ? What a joke .....
One more reason to get rid of Shareefs. No rule of law and justice.
Just to say this word #GoNawazGo
People need to understand that the job of proving an accused guilty lies with the prosecution, in this case done by NAB. A judge cannot sentence an accused to prison if the prosecution fails to make a convincing case. Since NAB chairman was appointed by Nawaz and Zardari, this verdict is not a surprise to anyone.
Is it surprising news? Not at all. Go Nawaz Go
@Parvez: '..too weak..' ? Do they need a blood transfusion? More food? Vitamins? Protein? When will they be strong ? 50 years from now? 6 months from now? Are they in ICU?
Untouchable Royals
The court clearing the Sharifs of money laundering does not mean they are innocent ...... it simply means that the justice system is too weak to prove them guilty.
The facade of independent judiciary. Zardari gets clean chit in his rule and Nawaz in his.
blind judgement, even the street dogs knows they are traitors, NAB is just like PTV and PIA, we don't believe this judgement, Allah is the best Judge
Congratulations to Mian Family. Jealous and anarchists should eat dust now.
Wake up my fellows. Just wake up and kick Sharifs, Bhuttos, Zardaris and all others like them. We are humans, not animals. We deserve better.
So if they are acquitted by courts, it is Sharif courts. If they are not punished in the courts for 10 years under Musharraf, which courts were those?
Pakistani judiciary is a joker Judiciary.... There is no forgiveness in hereafter, Justice there will be done.
Wow! all of them are doodh ka dhula! Mashallah!
In the cases involving "living beyond financial means" the onus of proof is on the accused.
It is in favour of PML N then its against justice
Courts decide guilty or not guilty. How court determined "political" motivation?
It would be worth checking assets of these Judges especially recent increase. How desperate was Nawaz to have his own NAB Chairman!
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
Now who is to blame for the tarnished image of my leader? Corrupt justice system. Remember justice delayed is justice denied. It took 14 long years to figure out that the case was politically motivated! What a joke!
@By stander: So what's next? Sue the author of the book who levied all these accusations in his books. No one should be defamed if they are acquitted of a crime in court of law. I highly doubt anything would be done in this regard as then the matter would be flagged in international courts and media. Alas, the 'Sharifs' can't influence them.
NS said "We are so innocent and cute, we just bath in milk, but honestly we have never even corrupted for a single penny.
Actually the secret of our exponential monetary growth of this scale is quite simple.
We know "Magic"
Magic of bribing the right man at the right time.
This indeed is another black day for democracy in Pakistan. Rather than deciding the case on merits, it has been dismissed on technicalities to please 'badshah salamat' Nawaz Sharif.
2012 March Nawaz declared he had 1 Million in his account
2012 October Nawaz declared he has 400 Million in his account
Wow Democracy, Wow Judicary
Someone who pays rs 5000 tax in Pakistan and pays Rs 2 Billion Tax in UK.
How sweet
The system is a joke. Go Nawaz Go! Please, just go!
What a joke, Own Government, Own accountability court, Why court not taken decision in last 14 years?????
Hail democracy....
Now what do you say IK? Ok, i'll listen to your evening speech.
Nawaz and his brother Shahbaz had the court in their pockets. Paid heavy duty bribes too. Bribes recovered 10 times over.
The big and the short Kings are acquitted when they are themselves in power. There is no shame left in Sharif family. God is watching. Remember that.
Judge has taken the bribe and cleared the Sharif Family. Where is Insaaf. PTI will reopen the case after coming in power. Go Nawaz Go. lol
So what happened to the affidavit of Mr.Ishaq Dar? The judges are raping the law in courts.
No Surprise