Nawaz Sharif challenges Toshakhana proceedings

Hearing of the petition fixed for Aug 17

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday challenged the accountability court's proceedings against him in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference and asked the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to declare the summons in the case null and void.

Nawaz Sharif, in his petition, said the order of the court proceedings should be declared null and void, adding that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is unjustifiably targetting him and his family.

The petition added that NAB wants to target the opposition and silence their voices. It further said the PML-N chief is not an absconder, but in fact, has gone abroad on bail to seek medical treatment and should be permitted to face trial through his representative.

The European Union (EU) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) also termed NAB's proceedings illegal, the petition stated.

Later in the day, the IHC fixed the hearing for August 17, and the petition will be heard by a two-member bench presided over by the court's chief justice. 

The court had ordered to initiate the process of declaring former premier Nawaz Sharif an absconder for his continued absence.

Zardari, Nawaz and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani have been accused by NAB of misusing official gifts given to them by foreign states. NAB informed the court that the summons for Nawaz had been issued in Britain through the Foreign Office (FO). The anti-graft watchdog submitted its report pertaining to the summons sent to Nawaz. The hearing was adjourned till August 17.

At the previous hearing, the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Nawaz and directed the FO to implement the arrest orders through Pakistan consulate in the United Kingdom.

NAB, in its document, had earlier 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.