ISLAMABAD: An accountability court here on Thursday ordered confiscation of movable and immovable properties of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for absconding in Toshakhana reference.
Accountability court judge Azam Khan had last month declared the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supreme leader a proclaimed offender and ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to arrest him through Interpol.
The judge had sought the record of luxury vehicles obtained from Toshakhana along with documentation from the prosecution witness by Oct 13.
In response to the accountability court’s Sept 9 order, NAB submitted on Thursday details of assets belonging to Nawaz Sharif. As per the NAB report, the assets included a bungalow in Murree, agricultural land in Lahore and Sheikhupura, eight bank accounts, a Land Cruiser, two Mercedes cars of 1973 and 1991 models and two tractors. Mr Sharif is also shareholder of different private firms.
In Toshakhana reference, NAB submits details of assets belonging to former prime minister
Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appeared in person, while ex-president Asif Ali Zardari and two other accused persons filed applications seeking exemption from personal appearance.
Cabinet Division official Zubair Siddiqui, who has turned approver in the case, recorded his statement before the judge.
Farooq H. Naek, the counsel for Mr Zardari, cross-examined prosecution witness Imran Muzaffar.
The charge sheet accused former PM Gilani of issuing directives for the Cabinet Division secretary to forward a summary for relaxation of the prescribed procedure in favour of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari for disposing of the luxury vehicles.
It accused Mr Zardari of “abuse of position as a holder of public office, in conspiracy with co-accused Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani…[and] dishonestly sought and obtained relaxation” of procedure of the acceptance and disposal of gifts.
The court chargesheeted Abdul Ghani Majid for receiving funds amounting to Rs57 million without any lawful consideration, which was laundered by making payments of cost and duties of the gifted vehicles.
As per the charge sheet, Khawaja Anver Majid also contributed to the crime through some bank transactions.
Judge Azam Khan read out the charges against the accused persons, who pleaded not guilty. The judge then adjourned the proceedings till Oct 13.
The NAB reference states that former president Zardari and former premier Sharif obtained cars from Toshakhana by paying 15 per cent of the price of the cars. NAB alleged that Mr Gilani had facilitated them in this regard. He dishonestly and illegally relaxed the procedure for acceptance and disposal of gifts, issued by the government vide Cabinet Division’s memorandum No.9/8/2004-TK dated June 25, 2007, which expressly stipulates that vehicles shall not be allowed to be purchased by the recipients and be given to the central pool of cars of the Cabinet Division.
The reference further states that former president Zardari accepted and received armoured vehicles as gift from the United Arab Emirates (BMW750 Li, model 2005; Lexus Jeep, model 2007) and from Libya (BMW 760 Li, model 2008) in September-October 2008. It was obligated to immediately report and deposit the vehicles with Toshakhana of the Cabinet Division, but he neither reported the gifted vehicles nor despoiled them.
The NAB reference alleges that former prime minister Sharif did not hold any public office in 2008. However, from April to December 2008, without giving any application or request to then prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, dishonestly and illegally obtained relaxation for his benefits of the procedure for the vide Cabinet Division’s memorandum.
Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2020
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