Hassan, Hussain’s fate in limbo: Accountability court hears final arguments

The court is expected to declare the sons of former prime minister proclaimed offenders


Rizwan Shehzad November 15, 2017
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's sons Hussain Nawaz (left) and Hassan Nawaz (right). PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing the Sharif family’s cases is expected to declare the sons of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif – Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz – proclaimed offenders on Wednesday (today).

The court already has issued directions for attaching their assets as detailed so far by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Nawaz arrives at accountability court for hearing in NAB references

On Tuesday, NAB presented a compliance report pursuant to a “proclamation order” passed by the court on October 9. Three NAB investigation officers – Mehboob Alam, Imran Dogar, and Muhammad Kamran – recorded their statements yesterday and gave details of four bank accounts in the name of Hussain.

The report said that Hussain has €4,272, $3,992, £207.53 and Rs382,381 in the respective accounts, or the equivalent of Rs978,449 in total.

It added that replies from Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) said that both the housing schemes have no record of any properties of the two accused. “We are still waiting for a reply from Bahria and the Lahore deputy commissioner,” the NAB officers said on Tuesday.

In their statements, the investigation officers informed the court that they had visited the brothers’ known residences in Model Town and Jati Umra in Lahore, affixed the proclamation order outside both, and in other prominent places, and publicly read out the court orders as well.

They said that copies of the court order were also sent to their known residences abroad through the foreign ministry and the high commission, adding that a confirmation report has also arrived in this regard. The issue was widely reported by print and electronic media, they added in their statements on Tuesday.

Hassan, Hussain's 30-day deadline to appear before court expires

“The accused are knowingly concealing themselves and deliberately avoiding the lawful process of the court,” said Kamran, “hence, absconded.”

Kamran and others prayed the court to declare the accused proclaimed offenders.

Subsequently, Judge Muhammad Bashir remarked that he would hear final arguments today and would then decide whether or not Hassan and Hussain should be declared proclaimed offenders.

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