The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday that the graft buster had detected 29 properties belonging to former president Pervez Musharraf and had sent letters to the relevant countries under the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA).
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard a contempt of court case against the NAB chairman for not conducting inquiry against Musharraf. In its report submitted in the IHC, NAB said that after receiving the MLA response from the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, it would be decided whether or not to proceed against the former military ruler.
NAB said that inquiry against Musharraf was approved on March 15, 2018. Letters pertaining to Musharraf’s two properties abroad and two foreign accounts had been sent under the MLAs, NAB said, adding that reminder letters had also been sent but a reply was still awaited.
NAB further said that a questionnaire was also sent to Pervez Musharraf. The graft buster further said that no progress was made in the investigation because MLA reply was not received. It added that after receiving the replies it would be decided whether to take action or not.
Read: NAB chief may face contempt in Musharraf case
During the heating, Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that this was a test case for NAB. He said that it was the responsibility of NAB to remove the impression of accountability of only elected representatives.
The chief justice remarked that Pervez Musharraf not only belonged to the armed forces but also served as the chief executive and was a public office-holder. He also said that Musharraf was the leader of a political party and a politician.
The petitioner’s lawyer told the court that he had given evidence that Musharraf had $20 million in his one account. If the MLA reply did not come for 40 years, would they remain silent, he asked. He added that Musharraf himself had admitted in his book that he “sold citizens” for dollars.
The lawyer, Col (retd) Inam-ur-Rehman, stressed that a reference should be filed on the basis of available evidence and added that supplementary references could also be filed after the MLA reply arrived.
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