Toshakhana reference against Nawaz: Court notices displayed at Jati Umra, Model Town

Published July 14, 2020
Former premier Nawaz Sharif has been directed to appear before the court on August 17. — AFP/File
Former premier Nawaz Sharif has been directed to appear before the court on August 17. — AFP/File

LAHORE: A notice of accountability court (Islamabad) was displayed at Jati Umra and Model Town residences of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday, directing him to appear before it on Aug 17 in the Toshakhana reference.

According to the notice, “Nawaz Sharif committed offence of punishable under Section 9 read with Section 10 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and it has been returned to a warrant of arrest thereupon issued that the said accused cannot be found and whereas it has been shown to my satisfaction that the said accused has absconded. Proclamation under section 87 CrPC is hereby made that the said accused Nawaz Sharif is required to appear before this court to answer the said reference on Aug 17.”

The accountability court of Islamabad last month had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif in the reference. Nawaz, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and former premier Yusuf Raza Gilani are accused of receiving luxury vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana.

The NAB reference alleged that Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif had obtained cars from Toshakhana by paying 15 per cent of the price of the cars. The bureau further alleged that Mr Gilani had facilitated Mr Zardari and Mr Nawaz to the effect.

The court directed the Foreign Office to execute arrest warrants against Mr Sharif through the Pakistan High Commission in London.

The NAB special prosecutor told the court that Mr Sharif was residing in Avenfield Apartments in the UK. He suggested that the court issue a directive to publish the notice in UK newspapers.

Nawaz Sharif has been in London for his medical treatment since November last. He left abroad after the court granted him bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, and Al-Azizia reference in which he was convicted for seven years. The court had given him four weeks permission for his treatment abroad.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Crop concerns
27 Mar, 2023

Crop concerns

AFTER last year’s heatwave that caused wheat grains to shrink significantly, the ongoing wet spell in Punjab and...
Higher learning
Updated 27 Mar, 2023

Higher learning

It is unfortunate that universities in Pakistan — with a few honourable exceptions — are hardly delivering world-class graduates.
Nur Jehan’s suffering
27 Mar, 2023

Nur Jehan’s suffering

FOR years, she was a star attraction for children visiting the Karachi Zoo who delighted in taking rides on her ...
Dickensian misery
Updated 26 Mar, 2023

Dickensian misery

Analysts warn we can expect inflationary pressures to get progressively worse over the remainder of the month.
Dog-bite cases
26 Mar, 2023

Dog-bite cases

AWAY from the hurly-burly of politics, Pakistan’s considerable healthcare challenges cry out for attention. ...
Life-changing chatbot…
26 Mar, 2023

Life-changing chatbot…

THE arrival and impressive performance of the generative artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT has left the world...