Accountability court summons Nawaz, sons on Sept 19

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Accountability Court summoned on Wednesday former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain and Hasan on September 19. 

The summons has been issued on the basis of the reference against Nawaz Sharif and his family regarding ownership of offshore companies that was filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). 

According to a copy of the summons, acquired by Geo News, the former premier has been asked to appear in person at 9am on September 19. It says that Nawaz's presence is necessary to respond to the charges against him. 

Moreover, the summons has been sent to Nawaz Sharif's homes in Raiwind and Model Town.  

NAB had filed on September 8 three references against the Sharif family and one against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the court in light of the Supreme Court's directives in the Panama Papers verdict of July 28. 

Moreover, on Wednesday, NAB resubmitted all four references in the accountability court after the court registrar had raised objections over technical errors present in the references. 

Accountability Court directs NAB to resubmit all references against Sharifs, Dar

The court's registrar raised objections over the references, saying there were several missing documents

The flagship companies' reference was resubmitted earlier, after which the summons was issued, and the remaining three references were resubmitted by NAB later in the day. 

After the submission of the flagship companies' reference, the registrar had sent for hearing the reference to the court of Judge Mohammad Bashir. 

The references were filed in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 decision in the Panama Papers case. The bureau was given six weeks, from the date of the court's order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings. 

NAB's Rawalpindi branch prepared references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family. 

Accountability court accepts all references against Sharifs, Dar: NAB

Sharif family members and Dar can face up to 14 years imprisonment, heavy fine, and freezing of property as well as lifelong disqualification from public office if found guilty

The bureau's Lahore branch prepared a reference on the Sharif family's Avenfield apartments in London and another against Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income.

If convicted, the accused can face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets.