RAWALPINDI, Aug 25: Accountability Court No 4 Judge Khalid Mehmood here on Saturday observed that the arrest warrants of Mian Nawaz Sharif and other accused in corruption cases could not be issued until they return to the country.

The court, however, admitted the application of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the removal of the late Mian Muhammad Sharif’s name from the list of accused in corruption references.

The observation of the judge came in response to an application filed by NAB authorities seeking permission to invoke the court again at an appropriate time for the recovery of any financial loss caused by late Mian Sharif from his legal heirs. The judge conceded the request on condition that any such application would only be entertained after hearing arguments of the defence in the cases.

The judge, while admitting the application of NAB for reopening of the references against the Sharif family on Aug 17, had directed the authorities concerned to inform the court about the addresses of the accused.

The NAB authorities, through Deputy Attorney General (DPG) Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, informed the court on Saturday that addresses of the accused were the same as mentioned in the references, and requested the court to delete the name of late Mian Sharif, father of Nawaz Sharif, from the list of accused, which the court accepted.

The judge observed that the arrest warrants of the accused could not be issued till they arrived in the country, and adjourned the hearing of the case till Sept 7.