Nawaz Sharif refuses to appear before NAB

LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, will not appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) till a verdict is passed on the review petitions submitted earlier by the family in the Supreme Court, Geo News reported. 

NAB was conveyed the same in writing by the Sharif family legal team.

"My client Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has been apprised of the above cited notice today and instructed me to convey his inability to appear before the Combined Investigation Team as has already filed a Review Petition against the judgement dated 28.07.2017," said the letter. 

The letter added that "in case of acceptance of the Review Petition, the proceedings initiated by NAB shall be an exercise in futility".

After clarifying that no notices from NAB had been received by Nawaz or his sons, the legal team advised the Sharif family to not recognise the NAB reference.

Sources claimed that it has been recommended that there was no reason to recognise the NAB reference.

Additionally, it has also been recommended that NAB proceedings will be unjust, will not be transparent and will be one-sided, sources added. 

Nawaz Sharif, sons did not appear before NAB

In light of the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, Hassan and Hussain’s expected appearance before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday, all regular proceedings were suspended, but neither of the three Sharifs appeared before the accountability bureau.

According to NAB sources, the Sharif family members were summoned to file their replies today pertaining to the NAB reference against them. 

However, PML-N leader Asif Kirmani, told Geo News that Nawaz Sharif, Hasan and Hussain had not received any notice to appear before the accountability bureau. 

When such notices are received, the decision to appear before the bureau directly or through legal counsel will be made after consulting with lawyers, Kirmani added. 

Earlier in the day, besides suspension of regular proceedings, a heavy contingent of security officials was deployed at the site in anticipation of the former premier's appearance. 

However, Sharif family sources had informed on Thursday that Hasan and Hussain have not yet received any notification for appearance before the accountability bureau.

A family member said, "we have learnt about the NAB notice only in the news, no communication [has] been made till now."

Sources reveal that PM’s cousin Tariq Shafi and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar have also been summoned today.

Moreover, NAB also wrote a letter to the excise and taxation department asking for details on assets and cars registered in the name of Ishaq Dar. Excise and taxation department has been asked to submit details by August 21. 

Alongside this, the Volume X of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which probed former PM’s assets, has also been handed over to NAB. The accountability bureau has also decided to use the services of JIT’s members Wajid Zia and Irfan Mangi.

A letter has also been written to the government of Saudi Arabia to get more details of the assets of Sharif family, revealed sources.

NAB files references against Sharif family

NAB has been tasked with filing references against the Sharif family, Ishaq Dar and Captain Safdar by September 8.

The references would be filed as ordered by the Supreme Court as part of the verdict which disqualified Nawaz from the office of prime minister.

References would be filed by NAB Rawalpindi against Nawaz Sharif, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz, Capt (retd) Safdar and Ishaq Dar.

The case will be pursued in an accountability court.

References

a) Reference relating to the Avenfield Properties (Flat No.16 and 16-A, 17 and 17-A Avenfield House, Park Lane, London, United Kingdom).

b) Reference relating to establishment of Azizia Steel Company and Hill Metal Company.

c) Reference relating to the companies mentioned in paragraph 9 of the judgment.

d) Reference relating to respondent No.10 for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.