مضمون کا ماخذ : نتیجہ میگا سینا
NAB court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Sharifs sons, son-in-law
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday deferred till October 9 the indictment of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in three corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the Supreme Court’s July 28 orders in Panama Paper case. Accountability Court judge Muhammad Bashir also issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Sharif’s sons- […]
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday deferred till October 9 the indictment of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in three corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the Supreme Court’s July 28 orders in Panama Paper case.
Accountability Court judge Muhammad Bashir also issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Sharif’s sons- Hassan and Hussian – and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar, directing the authorities concerned to arrest and produce them on the next date of hearing – October 9. The court, however, re-issued bailable arrest warrants of Sharif’s daughter, Maryam. Media was not allowed to enter the courtroom to cover the proceedings. As the hearing began, the court asked NAB prosecutor whether the other nominated persons in the case were produced after their arrest.
The NAB official told the court that orders had been delivered to the security guard at the residence of Sharif family in Lahore. The security guard had informed that Nawaz Sharif’s children including Hassan, Hussain, Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (R) Safdar were abroad due to ailment of Kulsoom Nawaz, he said.
After adjournment of the hearing, Mohsin Ranjha, a member of Sharif’s legal team, told media that former premier’s lead counsel Khawaja Haris apprised the court that the children of his client were engaged in looking after their ailing mother – Kulsoom Nawaz – in London and will appear before the court once their mother recovers. He said the court was assured that Maryam Nawaz and her husband, MNA Capt (r) Safdar, wanted to appear before it and that they will ensure their appearance on the next hearing.
Regarding why Nawaz Sharif was not indicted, Ranjha said it was argued by Khawaja Haris that since all the co-accused in the case were not present before the court, indictment could not take place under the law at this stage.
Regarding Nawaz Sharif’s earlier request for exemption from personal appearance before the court, Ranjha said the legal team did not press the court on this issue, thus it would be deliberated upon after the indictment.
The court also decided that it will separate the proceeding against Nawaz Sharif on next date of hearing if his children would again fail to appear before it. It may be mentioned here that Nawaz’s counsel submitted surety bonds worth Rs 5 million to ensure his client’s attendance in court.
Published in Daily Times, October 3rd 2017.
