NAB to record Nawaz's statement in gifts case

Trial court instructs accountability watchdog to record former PM's testimony by November 30"

ISLAMABAD:

A trial court has directed the country’s top graft watchdog to record the statement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a case linked to the alleged illegal acquisition of a luxury car from Toshakhana, the state’s gifts repository.

Judge Muhammad Bashir of Islamabad Accountability Court-I issued this order on Monday during the hearing in the case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

On March 3, 2020, NAB filed a reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari, former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yusuf Raza Gilani, and two others—Abdul Ghani Majid and Anwar Majeed—accusing them of obtaining luxury vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana in violation of the rules.

According to NAB, Yusuf Raza Gilani had illegally allotted cars to PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif during his term as the prime minister.

During Monday's hearing, Nawaz Sharif's lawyer Qazi Misbah stated that a defense statement was yet to be recorded. “NAB filed the reference in Nawaz Sharif's absence. We request the PML-N leader’s position to be recorded by NAB as ordered by the court,” he said.

The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the investigation officer is responsible for recording the statement. Nawaz’s counsel requested the court to set an earlier date for the case hearing and also asked for the questionnaire intended for giving testimony.

The court accepted the prosecutor’s request, directing NAB to record Nawaz’s testimony by the next hearing as it adjourned till November 30. The hearing was attended by the counsels of Zardari, Gilani, Majid, and Majeed.

NAB’s reference stated that Zardari and Nawaz obtained cars from Toshakhana by paying only 15 percent of the price. It alleged that Gilani facilitated Zardari and Nawaz in this regard, claiming that he dishonestly relaxed the government's gift acceptance procedure in 2007.

The procedure stipulated that vehicles presented as gifts by foreign dignitaries shall not be allowed to be purchased by the recipients and be given to the central pool of care of the Cabinet Division.