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NAB asks AC to re-open references against Sharifs

Posted on: Thu February 18, 2010

RAWALPINDI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) here on Wednesday filed an application before the Accountability Court-I for re-opening of the corruption references, pending against the twice prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and other members his family.

There were three corruption references pending against the Sharifs and his other family members, besides another that is yet to be signed by the NAB chairman. These references were adjourned sine die in September 2007 after the Sharif family was deported to Saudia Arabia. In one corruption referenceState Vs Hudabia Paper Mills (Pvt) Ltdnine members of the Sharif family were accused of committing a corruption of Rs642.743 million.

As per NAB allegations the accused deposited ill-gotten money in the accounts opened in other persons names and used the money from these accounts to pay off loans of the Sharif companies.

Mian Muhammad Sharif, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Mian Abbas Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Mrs Shamim Akhtar (Mother to Nawaz Sharif), Mrs Sabiha Abbas, Mrs Maryam Safdar and former Federal Minister M Ishaq Dar were the accused in this reference. The Accountability Court IV had abated this reference to the extent of Mian Muhammad Sharif after his death.

Second corruption reference under the title of State Vs Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif etc is about the Raiwind assets. Main allegation in this reference is that the accused had acquired vast tracts of land on which a number of palatial houses and mansions were constructed with pecuniary resources, which appeared to be grossly disproportionate to their known sources of income. As per NAB allegations, there involves an amount Rs247.352 million that is under question. Apart from Mian Nawaz Sharif, his mother was also an accused in this case.

In third corruption reference under the title of State Vs Ittefaq Foundries etc, Mian Nawaz Sharif, his brother Mian Abbas Sharif and Kamal Qureshi were allegedly involved in the corruption amounting Rs1,063 million.

The main allegation against the accused in this case was that M/s Ittefaq Foundries Ltd obtained cash finance from National Bank. As per NAB allegations, the company wilfully defaulted to pay back the amount in 1994.

All these references were either filed or investigated in 1999-2000 at the accountability court in Attock at that time. The cases, later, were shifted to Rawalpindi after the establishment of accountability courts at Rawalpindi. These cases were adjourned sine die after the Sharif family went in exile to Saudia Arabia.

The cases were opened once again in 2007 after the Supreme Court allowed Mian Nawaz Sharif and his family to return to Pakistan. Later, the cases were put of sine die once again after he was deported from Pakistan to Saudia Aribia.

NAB, in its application, has asked the court to re-open cases against Sharif as he and his family members were inside the country. NAB has also prayed to the court to issue notices to the respondents to appear before the court.

Previously, this case had been with the Accountability Court-IV, and now the Court-I will hear this case. The Accountability Court-I will take up the matter on February 22.

Courtesy : The News