Accountability court on Friday has issued arrest warrant against ex-Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and directed former President Asif Ali Zardari to appear on June 11 in Toshakhana reference.
Mr. Zardari has decided not to appear before accountability court in national depository (Toshakhana) Case.
Court Summons Nawaz, Zardari, Gillani in Toshakhana Case Today https://t.co/DWk9529qhI
— ACE News (@ACENewsPK) May 29, 2020
According to media reports ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gillani appeared before the court while Nawaz Sharif, who is currently in London for medical treatment, and Asif Zardari have skipped the hearing.
Read more: Will Nawaz Sharif be arrested again: Court to announce on 24th December
During the proceedings, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor has requested the court to issue arrest warrants against Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Yousaf Raza Gillani and Omni Group Director Abdul Ghani Majeed.
Previously, NAB prosecutor said that Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif got cars from Yousaf Raza Gillani through illegal way. Zardari had only paid 15 percent cost of the cars by using his fake accounts, however, Libya and United Arab Emirates (UAE) also gifted him cars when he was serving as president.
NAB official alleged that Asif Ali Zardari used these cars for his personal work instead of submitting them to Toshakhana. Nawaz Sharif got car without any application in 2008 when he was not holding any public office, the anti-corruption watchdog’s representative stated.
Toshakhana case: NAB court summons Nawaz, Zardari, Gilani https://t.co/MTBBnpwo0u What Muslims lack out of lust and greed! https://t.co/YxzuxBbqYP
— SYED ISRAR ALI (@alisisrar) May 18, 2020
What is Toshakhana case?
According to The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the former leaders have been charged with corruption under sub-sections 2, 4, 7 and 12 of Section 9 (A) of the NAB Ordinance.
The country’ premier anti-graft body claimed Zardari had only paid 15 per cent of the total cost of the cars through fake accounts. “Zardari also received cars as a gift from Libya and the UAE as president and used them himself instead of depositing them in the treasury,” NAB added.
The NAB reference alleges that Mr Sharif did not hold any public office in year 2008. However, from April to December 2008 without giving any application or request to then prime minister Gillani dishonestly and illegally obtained relaxation for his benefits of procedure for the vide Cabinet Division’s above said Memorandum which expressly stipulate 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.
“Nawaz Sharif knowingly and with dishonest intention obtained illegal favour in connivance with the then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani by obtaining the relaxation of said procedure for the acceptance and disposal of gifts,” reference states.
Read more: Nawaz Sharif breaks silence over Shahbaz’s arrest
In the Toshakhana reference, Khawaja Anwar Majeed having control of and by operating accounts of M/s Ansari Sugar Mills Ltd transferred Rs 9.2 million from bank account No 3172-2 maintained with National Bank of Pakistan’s Avari Tower Branch, Karachi, vide cheque dated 23-04-2009 to the account No 0023-011009761001 of Mr Zardari.
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