Bailable arrest warrants issued for Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – An accountability court (AC) on Friday issued arrest warrants for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference. AC Judge Asghar Ali heard the case in which former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appeared before court, while former president Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif skipped the appearance. During the hearing, the counsel of Asif Ali Zardari presented the medical reports of his client and requested to grant exemption from court appearance. The plea was opposed by NAB’s Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar, but the court approved the plea and directed former president Asif Ali Zardari to appear on June 11 in the reference. The NAB prosecutor has requested the court to issue arrest warrants against Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Yousaf Raza Gillani and Omni Group Director Abdul Ghani Majeed. But the court turned down the anti-graft watchdog body’s request and only ordered to issue arrest warrants for the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Later, the hearing of the case was adjourned till June 11. It is pertinent to mention here that the reference was filed after the approval of NAB Chief Justice (r) Javed Iqbal. The reference is filed at the accountability court Rawalpindi. The NAB has nominated former Nawaz Sharif, Yousaf Raza Gillani and Zardari and two others accused over charges of getting luxury vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana. According to the new reference, Yousaf Raza Gillani had illegally allotted cars to PML-N quid and PPP co-chairman. Zardari had only paid 15 per cent price of the car by his close aide and Omni Group Chief Anwar Majeed Anwar Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani Majeed through a fake bank account, the reference stated. It further stated that Abdul Ghani Majeed had also transferred Rs9.2 million to Zardari and Rs37 millions to customs collector in Islamabad. NAB told former president had also received cars from Libya and United Arab Emirates (UAE) as gifts during his tenure, adding that the vehicles were used for personal work instead of presenting them to Tosha Khana administration for record. Nawaz Sharif was given car from Tosha Khana in 2008 without assuming any public office or submitting any application, the anti-graft watchdog said. The accused have committed corruption under section 9-A’s sub-section two, four seven and twelve of NAB ordinance, therefore, they must be given tough sentence as per law, the reference stated.