An Islamabad accountability court on Thursday suspended the perpetual arrest warrants issued against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons — Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz — till March 14 in the three corruption references related to the Panama Papers.
Hussain and Hassan, through their counsel Qazi Misbahul Hassan, had filed an application in the court, seeking the suspension of the warrants issued against them in the Avenfield Apartments, Al-Azizia, and Flagship Investment references.
Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the decision today.
Previous hearing
Earlier, he took up the applications of Hussain and Hassan. The counsel had informed the judge that they were residents of Saudi Arabia and the UK, respectively, and were nominated as accused persons in these references along with Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and retired Captain Safdar.
He had said that the trial in these references commenced when both of them were not in Pakistan. Advocate Qazi Misbah said that they were unaware of the formal legal process, and the state never attempted to adopt the due course to serve the legal process, which included the issuance of notices, arrest warrants, and proclamations.
He further stated that Hussain and Hassan have now decided to surrender before the court to face the trial proceedings.
According to the counsel, both sons of the former premier are set to reach Islamabad on March 12, and they requested the court to suspend their arrest warrants, enabling them to reach the court to surrender.
It may be mentioned that Nawaz and Maryam were both convicted in the Avenfield reference days before the previous general election.
Nawaz was also convicted in the Al-Azizia reference in December 2018 but acquitted in the Flagship Investment reference.
Nawaz, Maryam, and her husband challenged their conviction in the Avenfield reference before the Islamabad High Court. Nawaz also challenged the conviction in the Al-Azizia reference.
However, when Nawaz went abroad and did not return, the IHC declared him a proclaimed offender.
While he was in the UK, Maryam and retired Capt Safdar pursued the case, and the IHC finally set aside their conviction.
Nawaz returned to Pakistan in October last year, and his appeals against convictions were revived, leading to the IHC setting aside his conviction in both cases as well.
More to follow