Nawaz Sharif to appear before accountability court today

Islamabad: Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif will be appearing before an accountability court on Friday in connection with the corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB”>NAB).

Sharif arrived in Islamabad on Thursday to attend the hearing from London, where he had gone to see

his ailing wife, according to the Dawn.

A four-member NAB”>NAB team was scheduled to serve court summons to Sharif upon his arrival, but the former prime minister immediately left for Punjab House.

The team waited outside Rawal Lounge to complete the required paperwork regarding surety bonds to be presented before the court.

However, Sharif went away in his car right after exiting the state guest house at the airport.

Then, the team reached Punjab House to finish the formalities, where Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Dr Tariq Chaudhry submitted surety bonds worth Pakistani Rupees 1 million to secure bail for Sharif and assured of his attendance tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court on Thursday accepted a petition moved by Sharif asking to frame joint charges and conduct a single trial against the Sharif family, instead of holding three separate trials.

Last week, the accountability court had issued the bailable arrest warrants against Sharif in connection with the cases related to two of his properties.

After the hearing on Avenfield flats in London, the court had indicted Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain Mohammad Safdar with a reference pertaining to flats.

Sharif was also indicted separately in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment cases.

However, all the three accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Sharif’s sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, were named co-accused in the charge sheet in the references.

Cases of disproportionate assets have been filed against Sharif, both of his sons, daughter Maryam and son-in-law retired Captain Mohammad Safdar.

The Sharif family owns Avenfield flats – 16, 16-A, 17, 17-A in Park Lane in London.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had asked the NAB“>NAB to file four references against the Sharif family in connection with their Avenfield and other properties on July 28. (ANI)