Deliberate absence: Accountability court initiates proclamation proceedings against Nusrat Shehbaz

(Karachi) An accountability court in Lahore has initiated proclamation proceedings against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shehbaz over her deliberate absence from the trial in a money laundering case, media reported on Thursday.

A proclamation notice requiring her to appear before the court on November 11 to save herself from having to face adverse legal action was pasted outside the court by the investigation officer of the case.

The notice read, "Accused Nusrat Shehbaz Sharif whose complete description and address has been given above [in the notice] has allegedly committed an offence of corruption and corrupt practices. It has been reported on the warrant of arrest issued against her that the said accused cannot be found."

As per the notice, the court observed that the absconder is deliberately hiding to avoid the execution of the warrants.

"Proclamation u/s 87 Cr.P.C is hereby made that the said accused is required to appear before this Court to defend the said reference on 11th day of November 2020," the notice said.

On November 4, the court had dismissed the plea of Nusrat Shahbaz to be granted exemption from appearance in the money laundering case against the Sharif family.

Her arrest warrants were issued but she did not appear in court.

The National Accountability Bureau accused Shehbaz Sharif of laundering money and owning more assets than his known sources of income

The evidence collected revealed that Shehbaz and his sons Hamza Shahbaz and Suleman Shahbaz and wife Nusrat Shahbaz had net assets of Rs14.8 million in 1998.

Shehbaz, in connivance with his other family members/benamidars accumulated assets to the tune of Rs7,328 million till 2018, NAB had revealed.