Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's sons Hussain Nawaz [left] and Hassan Nawaz [right]. PHOTO: FILE
The assets of Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, who have already been declared absconders, may be seized if they fail to appear before the accountability court by the end of the day.
Earlier, Judge Bashir had issued non-bailable warrants of arrest for both the brothers for failing to appear before the court. The court had also issued directions for separating trial of Hassan and Hussain after they failed to appear before the court despite repeated court orders.
Court notices put up outside Hassan and Hussain Nawaz's homes
While separating trial of Hassan and Hussain from others and declaring them as absconders, the court had ordered to initiate a proceeding under section 87 (proclamation for person absconding) of the Criminal Procedure Code against them.
In the proclamation order, Judge Bashir had noted that the suspects allegedly committed offences under section 9 (a) and (xii) of NAB ordinance of 1999 that is punishable under section 10 of the NAB ordinance and schedule thereto.
The court order had noted that the suspects have “absconded” or “concealed” themselves to avoid execution of warrants of arrest, adding that they were required to appear before the court to answer the references filed against them within 30 days starting from October 11.
Otherwise, the order read, they will be declared proclaimed offenders. It added that the “property belonging to the accused is also going to be attached u/s [under section] 88 Cr.P.C at any stage after this proclamation.”
Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Hassan, Hussain Nawaz
NAB had filed four corruption references against the Sharif family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar with the accountability court. The references were prepared in light of the July 28 judgement of the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.
The ex-premier and his sons have been named in all three references while Maryam and Safdar have only been named in the Avenfield reference. In its July 28 judgment, the apex court had directed NAB to file references against Sharif, his sons, daughter and son in-law within six weeks.
NAB’s one reference against Sharif, Maryam, Hussain, Hassan, and Safdar is related to the Avenfield Properties comprising flat No 16 and 16-A, 17 and 17-A Avenfield House at Park Lane area of London. Azizia Steel Company & Hill Metal Company and Flagship Investment and other companies references are only against the three-time former PM and his sons. The court will resume hearing pertaining to the assets of Hassan and Hussain on November 14.
Property details
The accountability court had also ordered the top graft-buster to furnish more details of properties belonging to Hassan and Hussain. The NAB had submitted details of 10 properties mainly pertaining to shares of Hassan and Hussain in different business ventures inside Pakistan. Hussain has shares in all 10 companies while Hassan is partner in two companies purportedly owned by Sharif family.
Court seeks property details of Hussain, Hassan
The anti-corruption watchdog also informed the court that in addition to the assets furnished on Tuesday, the top-anti-graft body is waiting for a reply from LDA, DHA, Bahria Town and State Bank of Pakistan about more assets of the accused. “I.O (investigation officer) is directed to furnish further details of property belonging to absconding accused” Judge Muhammad Bashir of the accountability court had stated in his order.
Afzal Qureshi, a NAB prosecutor, had submitted details of the shares held by Hassan and Hussain in different companies as provided by Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). He had contended that the shares “stand attached within the meaning of section 88 CrPC”, adding that warrants of attachment be issued to the Joint Registrar of SECP for further necessary action.
The order, however, did not state if the court accepted his request or turned it down. It only stated that the investigation officer has to submit more details of properties of the two brothers.
The court order showed that Hussain Nawaz is a share holder in Muhammad Bukhsh Textile Mills Limited, Ittefaq Brothers (Pvt) Limited, Brothers Steel Mills Limited, Hudabiya Paper Mills Limited, Hudabiya Engineering (Pvt) Limited, Ittefaq Textile Mills Limited, Hamza Spinning Mills Limited, Brothers Textile Mills Limited, Ramzan Bukhsh Textile Mills Limited and Khalid Siraj Industries (Pvt) Limited. As per the order, Hassan Nawaz has shares in only Muhammad Bukhsh Textile Mills Limited and Hamza Spinning Mills Limited.
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