Islamabad (October 09, 2017): The accountability court hearing NAB references against Sharif family on Monday ordered initiating proceedings to declare Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz as proclaimed offenders, asking to separate their cases from that of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz and Capt Safder.
The accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir resumed hearing of the references against the former Prime Minister and his children.
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The court while issuing perpetual arrest warrant for Hassan and Hussain, separated their trial from the other family members.
The court set October 13 as date for indictment of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Capt (Retd) Safder in the NAB reference filed against them. It is to be mentioned here that Capt Safder was accused in a single reference while Nawaz Sharif is primary accused in all the three references filed against the Sharif family.
The court directed the prosecution to get published advertisement in newspapers for initiating proceeding to declare the accused as Proclaimed Offender.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz and her husband retired Captain Muhammad Safdar appeared before the accountability court in connection with a reference filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Maryam accompanied by senior PML-N leader arrived at the court amid tight security on Monday morning. Her husband, who was taken into custody by NAB upon his arrival from Islamabad airport, was brought to the court later in a Hiace van by a NAB Rawalpindi team.
During the hearing, PML-N leader Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry submitted surety bonds worth Rs5 million on behalf of Maryam. She was also provided a copy of the NAB reference along with relevant details.
After hearing arguments from the prosecution, the court accepted bail of both Maryam and her husband. The judge ordered NAB authorities to release Capt Safdar after he too submitted surety bonds worth Rs5m.
The couple separately left the court after acceptance of their bail.
The court also heard arguments on an application filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the court.
When the court asked Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Harris, whether he was requesting exemption from today’s hearing only, the lawyer responded that his client had gone to London to look after his ailing wife and he should therefore be granted permanent exemption.
After initially reserving the decision, the court rejected the application for Sharif’s permanent exemption. The court allowed Sharif exemption from today’s hearing only.
Meanwhile, the NAB prosecution asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif, who they said had left for London, despite being a primary accused, without informing NAB authorities. Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on this matter.
After their failure to appear before the court in connection with the NAB references, the accountability court declared Hassan and Hussain Nawaz proclaimed offenders.
The court also issued perpetual arrest warrants for the two sons of the former premier, and separated their trial from other members of the family.
The court adjourned until October 13, when members of the Sharif family will be indicted.
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