ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is all set to file references against Nawaz Sharif, his children, son-in-law and Ishaq Dar by September 8.
According to a senior NAB official, the anti-graft body’s team investigating the Sharif family’s offshore holdings has removed all lacunas and finalised all legal formalities to file the references even if they do not appear before the bureau’s investigation team.
He said that the NAB’s Executive Board would meet after the Eidul Azha holidays. “The chairman will accord final approval and then the way will be clear to file the references,” he said.
He said the references pertaining to the Sharif family’s Avenfield Properties and the setting up of Azizia Steel Mills had already been sent to the bureau’s headquarters for final approval.
He said a meeting of the Regional Board of NAB Lahore, presided over by Director General Major (r) Shahzad Saleem, had finalised the references, which would be sent to the Executive Board after Eid holidays.
“A few days ago, the NAB team had also recommended to the Interior Ministry to place the names of Sharif family on the Exit Control List (ECL). However, their names have not yet been placed on the list,” he said.
In a recent statement, NAB had announced that one of the references would be filed against Nawaz Sharif, Maryam, Hussain, Hassan, and Capt (r) Safdar relating to the Avenfield Properties, comprising flat No 16 and 16-A, 17 and 17-A Avenfield House at Park Lane area of London.
In its July 28 verdict in Panama Papers case, a five-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, had unanimously disqualified Nawaz Sharif and directed NAB to file references against Sharif, his sons Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, daughter Maryum Nawaz, son-in-law Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar and Ishaq Dar.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) sources said that Nawaz Sharif, his children, Capt (r) Safdar and Ishaq Dar had decided to approach the top court for securing protective bails after consulting their legal team. They had earlier filed review petitions against the July 28 verdict.
Published in Daily Times, September 2nd 2017.
