Toshakhana reference: Arrest warrants issued for Nawaz Sharif

An Accountability Court hearing multi-billion rupees fake bank accounts case on Friday issued bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for not appearing before it in the Toshakhana (treasure-house) reference.
The NAB had filed the Toshakhana reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari and the former prime ministers Sharif and Yousaf Raza Gilani and others for allegedly acquiring vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana in violation of rules and regulations. The same court on May 15, had summoned Sharif, Gilani and Zardari to appear before it.
Gilani and accused Abid Ghani appeared before the court whereas Nawaz and Zardari did not. At the start of the hearing, the counsel for Zardari produced the medical reports of his client before the Accountability Court judge, Ashgar Ali, and requested him to grant a one-day exemption from appearing before it.
Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, while opposing Zardari's plea, said that "today's attendance of the accused is mandatory". The court turned down the NAB's request and approved the plea, and directed Zardari to appear before it on June 11 in the reference.
When the court inquired as to who had appeared on behalf of Sharif, the NAB prosecutor told the court that no one had appeared on Sharif's behalf in the case. He further said that summons regarding the appearance of Sharif before court had been sent to him at Jati Umra.
Even after getting the notice, Sharif's lawyer did not appear in court, the prosecutor said. He requested the court to issue arrest warrants for Sharif, Zardari, Gilani and Omni Group Director Abdul Ghani Majeed.
But the court turned down the request and only ordered issuance of arrest warrants for Sharif. The court after hearing arguments adjourned the hearing till June 11.
Gilani, while talking to media after the hearing, termed the Toshakhana reference "baseless". He said: "I have never done any illegal activity. The price of vehicles was to be determined by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). If it was not as per the law then why was a summary forwarded to me?"
According to the bureau, the evidence collected during the course of inquiry and investigation has established that the accused, Gilani in order to extend illegal benefit to the accused, Zardari and Sharif, illegally allowed the retention of vehicles gifted to them by various foreign states and dignitaries, which at that time belonged to the Central Pool of Cars, Cabinet Division, relaxing the procedure of Toshakhana illegally.
According to the NAB, accused, Zardari and Sharif, had retained the said vehicles against the nominal payment of 15 percent of total value of the vehicles.
According to rules, it was the responsibility of the accused persons to report and deposit the vehicles with the Toshakhana of the Cabinet Division, but they did not report or deposit the gifts. They converted those vehicles into their own use.
The accused, Zardari, made the payment for vehicles and duties of these vehicles through accused Khawaja Anver Majid and Khawaja Abdul Ghnai Majid, from "fake" bank accounts.
The accused, Gilani, former prime minister and minister-in-charge Cabinet Division from 2008-2012 had "illegally" relaxed the procedure for the acceptance and disposal of gifts, issued by the government through the Cabinet Division OM no.9/8/2004 TK dated June 25, 2007.
According to these rules, "gifted vehicles shall not be allowed to be purchased by the recipients and be given to the Central Pool of Cars of the Cabinet Division."