NAB summons Shehbaz Sharif once again after a no show

The National Accountability Bureau has summoned Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif once again after he failed to appear the last time, sources told Geo News on Wednesday.

Officials, who spoke to Geo News on the condition of anonymity, said that NAB has received the response submitted by the PML-N president. However, they claimed that the response was not satisfactory.

The NAB officials stated that they have sent another notice to the former chief minister to appear before the anti-graft body on May 4 at 12pm in an investigation pertaining to a money laundering case. 

They said that Shehbaz will have to appear himself as required under the law, and urged him to cooperate with the national institution.

PML-N clarifies

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that party president Shehbaz Sharif is not appearing before the National Accountability Bureau due to the coronavirus threat in the country.

The party spokesperson said that the documents related to the information sought by the anti-graft watchdog have been shared with the NAB and any additional information, if asked, would also be provided.

“Information available in Britain and Pakistan and those recalled by the memory have been given,” assured the PML-N spokesperson. 

The spokesperson said that a Skype address has also been provided to NAB for video conference.

Also read: NAB summons Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case

The PML-N informed that the former Punjab chief minister has also attached his doctor’s certification with the documents submitted to NAB. She further said that Shehbaz Sharif is a cancer survivor and his life was in danger due to the pandemic.

Shehbaz Sharif was first directed to appear on April 17, which he skipped. 

PML-N’s spokesperson Attaullah Tarar had stated that Sharif's health did not permit him to appear before the corruption watchdog amid the current situation of coronavirus.

Also read: NAB issues orders to freeze 23 properties of Shehbaz Sharif and sons

Last year in December, NAB had issued orders to freeze 23 properties belonging to the former Punjab chief minister and his sons Hamza and Suleman Shehbaz over the allegation that they acquired assets beyond their known sources of income and committed money laundering.

According to the accountability bureau, an investigation against Shehbaz, Hamza, Suleman and others for the offence of "corruption and corrupt practices" had revealed that Shehbaz had acquired properties in the name of his wives Nusrat Shahbaz Sharif and Tehmina Durrani.

Among the properties frozen are nine plots in Lahore's Johar Town, four in Judicial Colony, two houses in Model Town and as many houses in DHA.

Furthermore, the bureau has also frozen a cottage and a villa in Pir Sohawa and two more plots in Chiniot.