Court directs MoFA to execute Nawaz’s non-bailable arrest warrant in plot allotment reference

Former premier has been living in London for medical treatment for past six months

LAHORE:

An accountability court on Thursday directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to execute former premier Nawaz Sharif’s non-bailable arrest warrant in the plot allotment reference case.

An accountability judge in Lahore, Judge Asad Ali, heard the illegal plot allotment reference wherein special prosecutor Harris Qureshi appeared on behalf of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

During the proceedings, Model Town Police Station’s Inspector Bashir Ahmed presented Nawaz Sharif's arrest warrant report and stated that the former premier was not at his residence.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMN-N) leader Ata Tarar confirmed that the party supremo had been abroad for six months.

NAB prosecutor prayed upon the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz.

Hearing the appeal, the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Nawaz Sharif and directed MoFA to execute the arrest through Pakistan High Commission in London.

On September 1, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed former prime minister to appear before it on September 10, warning that otherwise it will declare him an absconder and also initiate action against those who acted as guarantors when the PML-N leader was granted bail by the court.

“We deem [it] appropriate that an opportunity be granted to the appellant [Nawaz] to appear before the court and surrender to the authorities before the next date of hearing.

“Failing this, proceedings would be initiated against him in accordance with law including but not limited to the provisions of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance, 1999,” said an order-sheet issued by a bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhar Kayani and Justice Aamer Farooq.

An IHC bench granted bail to Nawaz in the Avenfield case in September 2018. The same court on October 29, 2019 granted him 8-week bail also in Al-Azizia case in view of his deteriorating health condition.

The former premier was later also granted the rare permission to fly abroad for medical treatment after the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the government to remove his name from the country’s no-fly list – the Exit Control List (ECL).

The politician had challenged his convictions in the IHC.