Nawaz moves SC again against multiple corruption references

Former PM's petition says multiple references violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 25 of Constitution

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has once again approached the Supreme Court over multiple filing of corruption references against him in view of the landmark July 28 Panamagate case verdict.

The petition was filed on Friday through Khawaja Haris under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution. The application observed that multiple references against the accused, for each asset allegedly owned, possessed or acquired by him, disproportionate to his known sources of income, is repugnant to section 9 (a)(v) of the NAO, 1999.

Four corruption references against the Sharif family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad’s accountability court were filed last month by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the Supreme Court order.



The petition says multiple references in a case allegedly involving acquisition of assets beyond means is unprecedented and, as such, is manifestly discriminatory and in violation of the petitioner’s fundamental rights as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution.

“Filing of multiple references against an accused for the same alleged offence exposes him to double punishment, which is repugnant to the accused person’s Fundamental Right under Article 13 of the Constitution," it read.

Earlier last month, SC had dismissed review petitions filed by deposed prime minister and his children against the Panamagate verdict.

Sharif was disqualified from holding public office over his failure to disclose unwithdrawn wages due to him from a Dubai-based company owned by his son in the assets statement he filed along with his nomination papers in 2013. The judgment had thus asked NAB to file references against Sharif family members.