Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has issued summons to ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and his sons, Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, on August 18, reports claimed on Wednesday.

A team from Rawalpindi NAB will record statements of the former prime minister and his children. It was reported that they would be questioned over Al-Azizia Steel Mills.

Although a team of Rawalpindi NAB officials will record their statements, the Sharif family members will stay in Lahore, as the team will travel to Punjab’s capital. The NAB has been preparing references on the orders of the Supreme Court following the Panama case verdict.

According to sources, questions regarding how Al-Azizia Steel Mill was founded, from where the funds came and how funds were transferred after sale of the mill would be asked. The NAB team will be headed by an additional director. The Supreme Court had directed NAB to prepare three references in which one was regarding Al-Azizia Steel Mill. Other two references concern the London flats and 16 offshore companies held by the Sharif family.

It should be mentioned that Nawaz Sharif had submitted review appeals in the top court against the verdict of disqualification, attaching documents of Capital FZE salary and UAE Iqama (work permit). His lawyer reasoned that a stay order should be issued on Panama case decision until review petition was ruled, questioning the jurisdiction of five-member bench after dissenting notes by two of the judges. The Supreme Court had disqualified Nawaz Sharif in Panama case verdict on the basis of his non-withdrawn salary, considering it part of his assets.

Published in Daily Times, August 17^th 2017.