NAB contacts interior ministry to expedite Hassan, Hussain in Avenfield case

Perpetual warrants issued to arrest Nawaz Sharif’s two sons in London

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has contacted the Ministry of Interior for the issuance of red warrants for the arrest of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, sources said on Tuesday.

Both Hassan and Hussain hold dual nationalities and are currently based in the United Kingdom. Recently, an accountability court had declared both of Sharif’s sons as proclaimed offenders and ordered the issuance of non-bailable perpetual warrants for their arrest.

NAB is now seeking the help of Interpol for their arrest, for which it has contacted the Ministry of Interior. Sources add that if the ministry feels satisfied with the documents provided, it can instruct the FIA to contact Interpol for assistance.



Earlier this week, in a landmark judgment by the NAB court it was noted that the accused Hussain, Hassan and Maryam were not financially sound during the years 1993, 1995, and 1996, when the Avenfield apartments were purchased through offshore companies, the beneficial owner of which was Maryam.

Hussain and Maryam Nawaz were directors of Hudaybia Paper Mills while Hassan was a shareholder,” Judge Bashir had stated, adding that there is no evidence that members of Qatar’s royal family had filed any objections against the order of attachment of Avenfield Apartments passed by England's Queen’s Bench in a 1999 case.

Previously, the court had issued directions for separate trials of Hassan and Hussain after they failed to appear before the court despite repeated orders to face the references in line with the Supreme Court’s direction in the Panama Papers case. Earlier, while separating the trial of Hassan and Hussain from others and declaring them as absconders, the court had ordered to initiate proceedings against them under section 87 (proclamation for person absconding) of the Criminal Procedure Code.



Moreover, NAB has also asked the interior ministry for the issuance of a red warrant for the arrest of former finance minister Ishaq Dar. The Ministry of Interior has asked NAB for perpetual Warrants of Arrest (WOA) and certified copies of the proclamation of Ishaq Dar in this context. According to sources, NAB will provide these documents soon.

Meanwhile, the interior ministry on Tuesday denied placing Sharif and daughter Maryam’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

A ministry spokesperson in a statement said that decision of placing their name’s on the ECL would be taken when he returns to Pakistan. “The subcommittee of the cabinet will review the matter and final decision in this reference will be taken by the federal cabinet,” the official further stated.