Nawaz submits replies in luxury car case

NAB likely to present final investigation report at next hearing on Dec 20

ISLAMABAD:

Counsel for PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif informed an accountability court on Thursday that the former prime minister has participated in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation into the Toshakhana cars case by submitting written replies to a questionnaire.

In a reference filed in March 2020, the country’s top graft watchdog accused that during the term of prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, rules were violated to allow former president Asif Ali Zardari and former PM Nawaz Sharif to acquire luxury vehicles from the state’s gift repository.

During the last hearing on November 20, Nawaz's lawyer Qazi Misbah had stated that a defense statement was yet to be recorded as NAB filed the reference in Nawaz Sharif's absence. He had requested the court to order NAB to obtain the PML-N leader’s testimony.

Read IHC restores Imran’s right of bail in Toshakhana case

The court had later directed NAB to record Nawaz’s statement. When Islamabad Accountability Court-1 Judge Muhammad Bashir resumed the case's hearing, Nawaz’s counsel Misbah informed the court that his client had submitted replies to NAB queries.

The NAB prosecutor confirmed receipt of Nawaz’s response and requested more time for further action. “Further action will be taken after reviewing Nawaz Sharif's statement,” he stated. The court adjourned until December 20. Sources revealed that NAB had sought over ten answers in the Toshakhana vehicles case. Nawaz Sharif, through his lawyer, provided NAB with the answers to the questions on November 29. NAB is likely to present the final investigation report at the next hearing.