LHC extends NAB order to leave Sharifs alone
The Sharifs, including Nawaz and Shahbaz, have filed 7 petitions appealing for the release of their seized property.
LAHORE:
A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday extended its interim order to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) not to take coercive measures against members of the Sharif family.
The Sharifs, including Nawaz and Shahbaz, have filed seven petitions appealing for the release of property seized by the bureau in 2001. The court adjourned the hearing till August 26, after the NAB counsel sought more time to reply.
The NAB counsel said though the bureau had heard about the court’s notices through the internet and news channels, it had not received formal notices in a timely manner. He therefore needed more time to file a reply to the appeals.
On July 8, the bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan issued notice to the NAB chairman and also restrained the bureau from taking coercive measures against the appellants.
The appellants say that NAB is holding on to their properties in order to recover fines imposed on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in two cases, even though the Supreme Court has overturned the former prime minister’s convictions. Also, the appellants say, it is unlawful for NAB to recover fines imposed on Nawaz Sharif from other members of his family.
Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment, fined Rs500,000 and his property was ordered confiscated by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi on April 6, 2000, in the plane hijacking case.
He was also sentenced to 14 years in jail and fined Rs20 million by an accountability court on July 22, 2000, for irregularities in the purchase and registration of a helicopter.
The Supreme Court set aside both convictions on October 30, 2000.
The seven petitions include one filed by Hudabiya Paper Mills through its secretary Syed Ajmal Sibtain and 15 shareholders, all members of the Sharif family. The company wants NAB to return 7.07 million share certificates seized by Mohammad Shabbir Khan, the then director of NAB in Lahore on May 16, 2001.
Shahbaz Sharif filed a petition through Tariq Dastagir Khan seeking recovery of the original sale deed, executed by Murree Improvement Trust in Shahbaz’s favour, of plot No 53-C in the Damaged Area Scheme in Murree.
The deed was seized by Lahore NAB authorities on Jan 16, 2002.
A petition from Sabina Abbas, daughter of Mian Abbas Sharif, seeks release of a sale deed dated May 12, 1984, registered with the sub-registrar of Murree in favour of the petitioner, for property No 54 on Hill Road in Murree.
Chaudhry Sugar Mills wants the return of Rs5 million acquired by the Lahore NAB on April 6, 2002, through cross cheques.
Ramzan Sugar Mills wants recovery of Rs110 million taken by the bureau in 2001 and 2002 through six bank transactions.
Hudabiya Engineering Services is seeking recovery of 204,500 share certificates confiscated by NAB in Lahore on May 16, 2001.
Hamza Spinning Mills wants NAB to return 2.735 million share certificates.
These appeals were initially filed at the Rawalpindi bench of the LHC, but were transferred to Lahore because the Rawalpindi bench was unavailable.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2010.
A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday extended its interim order to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) not to take coercive measures against members of the Sharif family.
The Sharifs, including Nawaz and Shahbaz, have filed seven petitions appealing for the release of property seized by the bureau in 2001. The court adjourned the hearing till August 26, after the NAB counsel sought more time to reply.
The NAB counsel said though the bureau had heard about the court’s notices through the internet and news channels, it had not received formal notices in a timely manner. He therefore needed more time to file a reply to the appeals.
On July 8, the bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan issued notice to the NAB chairman and also restrained the bureau from taking coercive measures against the appellants.
The appellants say that NAB is holding on to their properties in order to recover fines imposed on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in two cases, even though the Supreme Court has overturned the former prime minister’s convictions. Also, the appellants say, it is unlawful for NAB to recover fines imposed on Nawaz Sharif from other members of his family.
Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment, fined Rs500,000 and his property was ordered confiscated by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi on April 6, 2000, in the plane hijacking case.
He was also sentenced to 14 years in jail and fined Rs20 million by an accountability court on July 22, 2000, for irregularities in the purchase and registration of a helicopter.
The Supreme Court set aside both convictions on October 30, 2000.
The seven petitions include one filed by Hudabiya Paper Mills through its secretary Syed Ajmal Sibtain and 15 shareholders, all members of the Sharif family. The company wants NAB to return 7.07 million share certificates seized by Mohammad Shabbir Khan, the then director of NAB in Lahore on May 16, 2001.
Shahbaz Sharif filed a petition through Tariq Dastagir Khan seeking recovery of the original sale deed, executed by Murree Improvement Trust in Shahbaz’s favour, of plot No 53-C in the Damaged Area Scheme in Murree.
The deed was seized by Lahore NAB authorities on Jan 16, 2002.
A petition from Sabina Abbas, daughter of Mian Abbas Sharif, seeks release of a sale deed dated May 12, 1984, registered with the sub-registrar of Murree in favour of the petitioner, for property No 54 on Hill Road in Murree.
Chaudhry Sugar Mills wants the return of Rs5 million acquired by the Lahore NAB on April 6, 2002, through cross cheques.
Ramzan Sugar Mills wants recovery of Rs110 million taken by the bureau in 2001 and 2002 through six bank transactions.
Hudabiya Engineering Services is seeking recovery of 204,500 share certificates confiscated by NAB in Lahore on May 16, 2001.
Hamza Spinning Mills wants NAB to return 2.735 million share certificates.
These appeals were initially filed at the Rawalpindi bench of the LHC, but were transferred to Lahore because the Rawalpindi bench was unavailable.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2010.