NAB Court Islamabad issues arrest warrants for Sharif’s children, Ishaq Dar challenged his indictment in High Court, Nawaz to face indictment on Oct 9, Federal Interior Minister threatened to tender resignation as he was disallowed by security forces to enter,, By;Asghar Ali Mubarak

NAB Court Islamabad issues arrest warrants for Sharif’s children, Ishaq Dar challenged his indictment in High Court, Nawaz to face indictment on Oct 9, Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal threatened to tender resignation as he was disallowed by security forces to enter

By;Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD –The NAB Court Islamabad’s judge Muhammad Bashir held hearing of three references against ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his children Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (Rtd) Safdar.The ousted premier was not charge-sheeted during today’s hearing. However, the court issued non-bailable warrant for arrest of his children and Captain Safdar.The judge Muhammad Bashir set the next hearing on October 9. Afterwards, Nawaz Sharif left for Punjab House.The court has provided the copies of references to Nawaz Sharif and had issued bailable arrest warrants for other accused.
Judge Muhammed Bashir of Islamabad’s Accountability Court heard three references of London flats, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Offshore Companies.In exemption plea, Nawaz Sharif argued his wife is ailing abroad and he needs to attend to her; hence, he should be exempted so that he may fly abroad. Mean while the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar challenged his indictment in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). An accountability court last week had indicted Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in connection with a corruption reference that was filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in line with the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in Panama Papers case on July 28.However, Dar had denied all charges against him relating to the accumulation of assets and funds beyond known sources of income. In addition, he also submitted security bonds worth five million rupees as per the directions of the court. Dar vowed that he will prove his innocence before the court.Dar petitioned that he had been indicted by the accountability court without being given the mandated time and requested the IHC to suspend the indictment proceedings. The finance minister has requested for time to file his response pertaining to the case. He further urged the IHC to order the accountability court to suspend the trial proceedings until a decision has been taken on his filed petition. During the earlier hearing, Dar’s legal counsel had asked the judge to be granted seven days for pursuing the reference against his client. However, the judge had turned down the request, observing that the court must wrap up the trial proceedings within the stipulated time of six months as per the SC’s directions.“If you take a month to read the reference how will we wrap up proceedings in the given time,” the judge asked, observing further that two days are enough to review the reference.The judge had also announced daily hearings into the case had also asked Dar to deposit an Rs5 million surety bond to ensure his appearance at the hearings.On other day, NAB team was unable to deliver arrest warrants issued against the Sharif children — Hassan, Hussain and Maryam — at their Jati Umra residence. Media reports said the NAB team could not find anyone at the residence on Friday to acknowledge their receipt.NAB will now request the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for the four on October 2, when Nawaz is expected to be formally charge-sheeted. Nawaz had briefly appeared before a NAB court on Tuesday. The references followed the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case that had disqualified Nawaz from holding public office. Maryam, Hussain, Hassan and Safdar are currently in London with their ailing mother Kulsoom Nawaz, Nawaz’s spouse. More over the Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal threatened to tender his resignation as he was disallowed by security forces to enter the premises of Accountability Court where hearing of three NAB references against Nawaz Sharif and his children is in progress.
For reasons best known to the higher officials, Ahsan Iqbal was not allowed to enter the premises of accountability court despite the order by chief commissioner.
On this snub, the federal minister got emotional and threatened to resign, saying, “It is right of media and citizens to witness the trial.”
He said in rage, “The security arrangements were put in place in supervision of chief commissioner. The courts do not hold in camera trials.”
Ahsan Iqbal said, “The paratroopers are under the federal interior ministry; hence, I could not help taking notice of this situation.”
Rangers violated the directives the civil administration, the federal minister said adding, “Two states cannot work parallel within a state.”