The fresh investigation against Nawaz sharif

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau has decided to conduct a fresh investigation against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and display his bench warrant at his residence in London during a separate Toshakhana reference.

The decision to initiate the fresh investigation against Nawaz Sharif was taken by the anti-graft watchdog in its Executive committee meeting (EBM) on Tuesday. it had been presided over by NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal.

An official handout issued by NAB said: “The EBM okayed conducting investigations against former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif et al. .”

According to NAB, “Nawaz Sharif misused government funds for the development of a road to his house in Raiwind.”

A bench warrant for ex-PM to be displayed at his London residence in Toshakhana reference

On the opposite hand, NAB decided to eliminate a case against Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition within the National Assembly and brother of Nawaz Sharif, and launch a fresh inquiry against him.

When contacted by Dawn, NAB said that Shahbaz Sharif being the Punjab chief minister had misused his authority on the development of a dual-carriageway resulting in a personal university the vice-chancellor of which was Sartaj Aziz.

“The EBM approved closing investigations against Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, former Punjab Chief Minister; Javed Mehmood, former secretary to the CM Punjab; Ahmed Khan Cheema, former director-general of the Lahore Development Authority; et al. thanks to the absence of proof,” said the handout.

Toshakhana reference

After displaying the notice of arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umrah residence near Lahore, the bureau decided to display an equivalent at his residence in London.

In this connection, NAB contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which has directed the Pakistani High Commission within the UK to display the notice.

A notice of the accountability court (Islamabad) was displayed at Jati Umra and Model Town residences of Nawaz Sharif on Monday, directing him to seem before it on Aug 17 within the Toshakhana reference.

According to the notice, “Nawaz Sharif committed the offense of punishable under Section 9, read with Section 10 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999, and it's been returned to a warrant of arrest thereupon issued that the said accused can't be found and whereas it's 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 seem before this court to answer the said reference on Aug 17.”

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

The NAB meeting authorized filing corruption reference against Arshad Waheed, a chief military officer of M/s ERPL, et al. for alleged abuse of authority.

The EBM authorized conducting inquiries against Shahbaz Sharif, former senator Sartaj Aziz, former DIG Traffic Police Punjab Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan and others; Mehr Hamid Rashid, member Punjab Assembly; Mehr Abdur Rauf, owners/developers et al. of Heaven Villas Faisalabad; Attiqur Rehman, Sheikh Ejaz Ahmed, former MPA, et al. , and defaulting Ph.D. scholars of Punjab University. It also authorized inquiries against Shahbaz Sharif, Sartaj Aziz, Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, et al...

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