Court acquits Nawaz Sharif in property reference

• No objection raised by NAB on PML-N supremo's acquittal.
• NAB alleged Nawaz of illegally allotting 54 plots in case.
• Allegation also included loss of Rs143mn to national exchequer.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif was acquitted by an accountability court in a 37-year-old private property reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), The News reported on Sunday.

The verdict, announced by Judge Rao Abdul Jabbar, came after the former prime minister's lawyer contended that NAB had malicious intentions when it filed the reference against his client, who had no involvement in plot allotment.

The counsel further argued that the new law did not warrant the case. Additionally, the counsel pointed out that all other accused in the case had already been cleared of charges. It was emphasised that even a proclaimed offender could be exonerated in the absence of sufficient evidence.

The NAB prosecution did not raise any objections to the acquittal of Nawaz Sharif. After hearing the counsel, the court acquitted the former prime minister.

NAB had alleged that the former premier illegally allotted 54 plots each measuring one-kanal situated in Block-H, Johar Town, Lahore, when he was the chief minister of Punjab. It alleged the accused caused a loss of Rs143 million to the national exchequer through the allotment of the land.