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Accountability court reissues notices to Sharif family
RAWALPINDI: The accountability court no.4 in Rawalpindi heard the case pertaining to reopening of three alleged corruption references against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahabaz Sharif on Saturday, and reissued summon notices to them, Geo News reported.The references include the alleged corruption cases of Hudaibia paper mills, Ittefaq Foundry and Raiwind farm.
During today’s proceedings, PML-N’s lawyer Akram Sheikh told that the High Court has given stay order against these references and requested the accountability court to adjourn the hearing for indefinite period. He told that due to indefinite postponement, the cases are no more valid.
Akram Sheikh told that he did not receive any notices and argued that NAB should apologize over issuing notices.
Replying to that, NAB’s lawyer Chaudhry Riaz said that the summon notices were sent by the court, therefore, they will not tender apology. He said that the reopening of the references was in accordance with the NAB ordinance. The case was only postponed and if it had become dead, then why the Sharif brothers had to go to the High Court, Riaz questioned.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing of Hudaibia paper mills case till September 6 and Ittefaq Foundry case till September 15. The court then reissued summon notices to Sharif family in both the cases.
While talking to the media, Akram Sheikh said that these cases were filed on political basis in the past and still such efforts are underway. He alleged that NAB chairman acted on President Zardari’s wishes.
Earlier, the court had summoned records from the NAB over the references and issued notices to Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif for today.
NAB chief Admiral Fasih Bokhari had submitted three applications in the accountability court seeking the reopening of three references against Sharif brothers and to contest the quashment petition which was filed by the Sharifs in the LHC in October 2011. He took this decision on the recommendation of a special committee, constituted by him under the supervision of the NAB prosecutor general.
While Bukhari sought revival of the cases, NAB continues to be indecisive about the fate of a reference submitted by Advisir to the Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman Malik, to it against the Sharif brothers in which he charged them with money laundering of $32 million. The special committee is still reviewing it.
Courtesy www.geo.tv