ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday stopped law enforcement agencies from arresting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son-in-law Haroon Yousaf Aziz and directed him to appear in person on Thursday (today).

IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan took up the petition seeking protective bail for Aziz.

His counsel Amjad Pervaiz advocate argued before the court that Aziz was scheduled to arrive at Islamabad International Airport via Qatar Airways at 7:35pm on Dec 21.

He said Haroon Yousaf Aziz intended to surrender before the Accountability Court of Lahore in connection with assets reference case.

In the petition, Mr Aziz cited the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, NAB Lahore director general and Accountability Court Lahore judge as respondents.

He requested the court for grant of protective bail, enabling him to surrender before the competent court of law.

Mr Aziz is a co-accused in the assets reference.

According to NAB, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s family members received foreign funds through alleged fake transactions.

These transactions had been made through the company, allegedly owned by Shehbaz Sharif’s son-in-law Haroon Yousaf Aziz.

The maximum numbers of fake transactions to the Shehbaz family had been made through Al-Zarooni Exchange of Dubai.

After hearing preliminary arguments, the IHC bench restrained the LEAs from arresting Aziz till Dec 22 and ordered him to appear in person on Thursday.

Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned till today.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2022