IOs remain unable to collect new actionable evidence against Sharif family

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has relied on the findings of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) while preparing references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

Two senior investigators have revealed that the combined investigation team remained unable to collect ‘actionable evidence’ against the Sharif family in the Panama case order.

“We relied on JIT’s findings as the time was too short to collect new actionable evidence from abroad, under legal mutual assistance laws of the National Accountability Bureau in particular,” said an investigation officer (IO) on Thursday.

“Two IOs also suggested to buy more time from the apex court in an effort to prepare a perfect case against the Sharifs with solid documentary evidences—but no one listens to us,” an investigator revealed.

Some senior officers were of the view that IOs should have done more work on these references, he added.

A director general of the accountability body, during Thursday’s meeting, expressed fear that references being made against the Sharif family, due to hastiness, may face ‘technical-knockout in accountability courts’, the official disclosed.

However, a senior official who works in the prosecution wing of the body, said they will file four references on Friday with additional evidence.

The interim references would be filed with the administrative judge of Rawalpindi accountability court, he added the senior official.

“We are relying on section 14 of NAB Ordinance 1999, which stated that when an accused person admitted owning property then the burden of proof shifted to him. The NAB ordinance also empowered us to collect evidence regarding Sharif family properties abroad.”

Brigadier (retd) Musaddiq Abbasi, former DG NAB, sees many technical flaws in these references. “All the accused must be investigated, questioned by the IOs. All actionable evidence must be collected by the IOs before filing references, it is binding upon NAB administration,” he observed.

He also questioned that why did NAB not show the draft of references to the monitoring judge of the apex court.

However, he was of the view that it would be a test case for the Sharifs if they did not appear before the courts.

Regarding seeking more time from the apex court for collecting more actionable evidence, a spokesman for NAB denied the information and said, “no such conversation took place during the meeting. These are just mere allegations to tarnish the transparent image of NAB. The officers and officials of NAB are educated, professionally very sound and they believe in decency,” said Nawazish Ali, spokesperson for NAB.