An Islamabad accountability court on Monday ordered PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to record his statement in the Toshakhana case.
The ex-PM, who was not in court, was given till November 30 to testify.
The case alleges that Nawaz, former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani acquired luxurious automobiles and items from the Toshakhana — a authorities repository that shops items given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officers by heads of different governments, states, and international dignitaries.
In June 2020, an accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the previous premier. Months later, Nawaz challenged the warrants in the Islamabad High Court however had withdrawn the petition days later.
On Sept 10, 2020, he was declared a proclaimed offender in the case, with an accountability court initiating the method to confiscate his properties and directing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to make his arrest via Interpol.
Last month, simply two days earlier than his return to Pakistan, the court suspended Nawaz’s perpetual arrest warrants.
At the earlier listening to, the court had confirmed the PML-N supremo’s bail in the case.
Today, pleader Rana Irfan and Nawaz’s lawyer Qazi Misbah appeared in court.
At the outset, Advocate Misbah urged the court to difficulty instructions to the National Accountability Bureau on recording Nawaz’s statement.
“A supplementary reference wants to be filed … a reference was filed in the absence of Nawaz,” he mentioned, including that “we wish the NAB to record Nawaz’s place”.
Here, the NAB prosecutor sought time to undergo the petition. However, Judge Muhammad Bashir mentioned: “What is the issue? Call Nawaz Sharif and record his statement.”
In his response, the prosecutor mentioned solely the investigating officer might record the statement. At that, Advocate Misbah requested the previous for the questionnaire. “We will give the solutions,” Nawaz’s lawyer added.
The NAB prosecutor then mentioned there have been no objections to the PML-N supremo recording his statement earlier than the IO.
Subsequently, the court accepted Nawaz’s lawyer’s request relating to recording his statement and granted him time until November 30 to do the identical. The listening to was adjourned until Nov 30.
The case is said to receiving luxurious automobiles and items from the Toshakhana.
Established in 1974, Toshakhana is a division underneath the executive management of the Cabinet Division and shops valuable items given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officers by heads of different governments, states and international dignitaries as a goodwill gesture.
Under the foundations, it’s obligatory that items of a sure worth are deposited in Toshakhana. However, an official can preserve these items offered he pays a sure share of the worth assessed by the Toshakhana analysis committee.
The reference states that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz obtained automobiles from Toshakhana by paying 15pc of the worth of the automobiles. NAB had additional alleged that former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani had facilitated the 2. He dishonestly and illegally relaxed the process for the acceptance and disposal of items, issued by the federal government of Pakistan vide Cabinet Division’s Memorandum No.9/8/2004-TK dated June 25, 2007, which expressly stipulates that automobiles shall not be allowed to be bought by the recipients and be given to the central pool of care of the Cabinet Division.
The NAB reference alleges that Nawaz didn’t maintain any public workplace in the 12 months 2008. However, from April to December 2008 with out giving any software or request to then prime minister Gillani, Nawaz dishonestly and illegally obtained rest for his advantages of process for the vide Cabinet Division’s above mentioned Memorandum which expressly stipulates that automobiles shall not be allowed to be bought by the recipients and be given to the central pool of automobiles of the Cabinet Division. “Nawaz Sharif knowingly and with dishonest intention obtained unlawful favour in connivance with the then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani by acquiring the comfort of mentioned process for the acceptance and disposal of items,” the reference states.
