LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his two sons, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, Friday failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau’s Lahore office for interrogation pertaining to a Supreme Court-ordered investigation into the Sharif family’s business concerns. Security had been tightened in and around the NAB office, with about 200 police personnel deployed in the surrounding area in anticipation of the ousted prime minister’s visit, but Nawaz Sharif and his sons did not appear. Subsequently, the five-member NAB team comprising an additional director, a deputy director, and an assistant director, returned to Rawalpindi. NAB sources said a decision on whether or not to send another notice to the family would be made after consultation with the NAB chairman. It also remains to be seen whether Nawaz Sharif and his sons will be summoned to the offices in Lahore or Islamabad. The PML-N insiders earlier said that Nawaz Sharif and his sons, after discussion with close aides and their legal team, decided not to join the NAB investigation until the apex court decides on their review petition against the July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. “Nawaz Sharif and his children have decided not to appear before NAB till a verdict on review petition in the Supreme Court is decided. Sharif has sought a stay order against the NAB proceedings and till the apex court decides on his petition, there is no point in him joining the NAB investigation in cases against him,” a close aide of Nawaz Sharif, who is privy to the development, said. Nawaz Sharif appealed to the SC to stay further implementation of the Panamagate judgement, which included orders for filing of references against the Sharif family over Al-Azizia Steel Mills and the Hill Metal Establishment, and one regarding 16 other companies. The companies are Flagship Investments, Hartstone Properties, Que Holdings, Quint Eaton Place 2, Quint Saloane, Quaint, Flagship Securities, Quint Gloucester Place, Quint Paddington, Flagship Developments, Alanna Services (BVI), Lankin SA (BVI), Chadron, Ansbacher, Coomber and Capital FZE (Dubai). PML-N’s Senator Asif Kirmani, a close aide of the ex-PM, earlier said neither Nawaz Sharif nor his sons would appear before NAB in Lahore, as they had not received any summons from the NAB. A joint team of NAB officials from Lahore and Rawalpindi have also formulated a questionnaire for the investigation. It is expected that Nawaz Sharif and his sons will be questioned about financial matters pertaining to Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment. The inquiry may include questions about the purchase of land and machinery for Al-Azizia and the formation of its internal structure. NAB is also expected to ask for proof of purchase of the machinery for the mill from Dubai. The probe team could also possibly ask as to where the capital for the creation of Hill Metal came from; who was part of the board of directors; and where the shareholder details of the company are. Additionally, the three may be quizzed about the nature of monetary gifts made to Nawaz Sharif by his son Hussain Nawaz. It is possible that Rehman Malik and Shehbaz Sharif are summoned by the NAB to record their statements. Published in Daily Times, August 19th 2017.