IHC summons Safdar as NAB wants bail cancelled
NAB petition argues accountability court does not have authority to release PML-N leader
Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued summons for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar to appear on December 14 over a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking cancellation of his bail in the Avenfield properties case.
A divisional bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Aamir Farooq and comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, passed the orders after going through the arguments placed by NAB Special Prosecutor Afzal Qureshi.
The NAB prosecutor informed the bench that the accountability court had issued non-bailable warrant for Safdar’s arrest on October 2, 2017, after which he was arrested and produced before the court on October 9.
Captain Safdar arrested as he returns from London
The NAB official contended that the accountability court did not have the authority to release Safdar on bail under the NAB Ordinance, 1999. He pleaded that the bail order be set aside and Safdar sent to Adiala Jail.
Justice Farooq observed that the respondent should appear in person to defend himself, and issued summons.
On November 3, 2017, the NAB had challenged the accountability court's order granting bail to Safdar in the Avenfield properties case. Safdar was taken into custody by NAB officials when he and his wife Maryam Nawaz arrived in Islamabad from London to appear before the court in a corruption reference on October 9.
The court had issued non-bailable warrant for Safdar’s arrest after a no-show in the previous three hearings in the case filed by the NAB in line with the Supreme Court's July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case.
On October 9, the court approved bail for Maryam and Safdar against Rs5 million worth of surety each. Safdar, who was produced in the court by NAB officials after he spent a night in custody, was also directed to take the court's permission before leaving the country.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued summons for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar to appear on December 14 over a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking cancellation of his bail in the Avenfield properties case.
A divisional bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Aamir Farooq and comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, passed the orders after going through the arguments placed by NAB Special Prosecutor Afzal Qureshi.
The NAB prosecutor informed the bench that the accountability court had issued non-bailable warrant for Safdar’s arrest on October 2, 2017, after which he was arrested and produced before the court on October 9.
Captain Safdar arrested as he returns from London
The NAB official contended that the accountability court did not have the authority to release Safdar on bail under the NAB Ordinance, 1999. He pleaded that the bail order be set aside and Safdar sent to Adiala Jail.
Justice Farooq observed that the respondent should appear in person to defend himself, and issued summons.
On November 3, 2017, the NAB had challenged the accountability court's order granting bail to Safdar in the Avenfield properties case. Safdar was taken into custody by NAB officials when he and his wife Maryam Nawaz arrived in Islamabad from London to appear before the court in a corruption reference on October 9.
The court had issued non-bailable warrant for Safdar’s arrest after a no-show in the previous three hearings in the case filed by the NAB in line with the Supreme Court's July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case.
On October 9, the court approved bail for Maryam and Safdar against Rs5 million worth of surety each. Safdar, who was produced in the court by NAB officials after he spent a night in custody, was also directed to take the court's permission before leaving the country.