Non-bailable warrants for Nawaz issued
The PML-N supremo has been accused of misusing official gifts given to him by foreign states
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been accused of misusing official gifts given to him by foreign states. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
An accountability court in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrant for former premier Nawaz Sharif over his continuous absence from proceedings in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gillani have been accused by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of misusing official gifts given to them by foreign states.
According to rules, the presidents and prime ministers have to deposit these gifts in Toshakhana.
However, the rulers had reportedly misused their authority and illegally kept the gifts for their own or their family’s use during their terms in power or after departure from their offices.
Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif
As per the rules, in case they want to retain such gifts they have to pay a concessional amount to the national exchequer.
The proceedings of the case were carried out by accountability court no 3 judge Syed Asghar Ali Shah on Thursday.
The NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, investigation officer and ex-premier Gillani appeared before the court, while Nawaz and Zardari remained absent.
Gillani filed an application requesting the court to grant him permanent exemption from appearance in the case in view of the Covid-19 situation.
Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naek argued that the health of his client was not stable and pleaded the court to not summon him in the prevailing virus situation.
“He [Zardari] will not run anywhere. Asif Zardari is in Karachi and is ailing. He should not be called in his personal capacity. He has faced cases in the past too,” he said.
The judiciary accepted Zardari’s plea for exemption from appearance for the day and ordered that the PPP co-chairperson should appear in person in the next hearing.
Giving his arguments, the NAB prosecutor requested the judiciary to carry out proceedings against Nawaz and stated that the PML-N supremo was out of the country and had been continuously absent from the proceedings in the Toshakhana reference against him.
The court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Nawaz and directed the Foreign Office to implement the arrest orders through Pakistan consulate in the United Kingdom.
The court sought reply from the anti-corruption watchdog on Gillani’s request for a permanent exemption from appearance and adjourned the hearing of the case until June 30.
The NAB, in its document, earlier had stated that the evidence collected during the course of inquiry and investigation established that Gillani had, in order to extend the illegal benefit to Zardari and Nawaz, illegally allowed the retention of vehicles gifted to them by different foreign states and dignitaries, which at that time belonged to Central Pool of Cars of the Cabinet Division, by relaxing the procedure of Toshakhana, and both the former premiers, through dishonest and illegal means for their personal benefit and interest, retained these vehicles against a nominal payment of 15% of the total value of vehicles.
An accountability court in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrant for former premier Nawaz Sharif over his continuous absence from proceedings in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gillani have been accused by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of misusing official gifts given to them by foreign states.
According to rules, the presidents and prime ministers have to deposit these gifts in Toshakhana.
However, the rulers had reportedly misused their authority and illegally kept the gifts for their own or their family’s use during their terms in power or after departure from their offices.
Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif
As per the rules, in case they want to retain such gifts they have to pay a concessional amount to the national exchequer.
The proceedings of the case were carried out by accountability court no 3 judge Syed Asghar Ali Shah on Thursday.
The NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, investigation officer and ex-premier Gillani appeared before the court, while Nawaz and Zardari remained absent.
Gillani filed an application requesting the court to grant him permanent exemption from appearance in the case in view of the Covid-19 situation.
Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naek argued that the health of his client was not stable and pleaded the court to not summon him in the prevailing virus situation.
“He [Zardari] will not run anywhere. Asif Zardari is in Karachi and is ailing. He should not be called in his personal capacity. He has faced cases in the past too,” he said.
The judiciary accepted Zardari’s plea for exemption from appearance for the day and ordered that the PPP co-chairperson should appear in person in the next hearing.
Giving his arguments, the NAB prosecutor requested the judiciary to carry out proceedings against Nawaz and stated that the PML-N supremo was out of the country and had been continuously absent from the proceedings in the Toshakhana reference against him.
The court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Nawaz and directed the Foreign Office to implement the arrest orders through Pakistan consulate in the United Kingdom.
The court sought reply from the anti-corruption watchdog on Gillani’s request for a permanent exemption from appearance and adjourned the hearing of the case until June 30.
The NAB, in its document, earlier had stated that the evidence collected during the course of inquiry and investigation established that Gillani had, in order to extend the illegal benefit to Zardari and Nawaz, illegally allowed the retention of vehicles gifted to them by different foreign states and dignitaries, which at that time belonged to Central Pool of Cars of the Cabinet Division, by relaxing the procedure of Toshakhana, and both the former premiers, through dishonest and illegal means for their personal benefit and interest, retained these vehicles against a nominal payment of 15% of the total value of vehicles.