ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court hearing multi-billion rupees fake bank accounts case has issued an advertisement for summoning of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana reference.

During the last hearing, Muhammad Asghar Ali judge had started the process of declaring Sharif as proclaimed offender, and issued bailable arrest warrants for former president Asif Ali Zardari.

The NAB had filed the Toshakhana reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari, and former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousaf Raza Gilani, and others, for allegedly acquiring vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana in violation of rules and regulations.

According to the Accountability Court, Sharif has committed offence punishable under Section 9 read with Section 10 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, and it has been returned to a warrant of arrest, thereupon issued that the said accused Sharif cannot be found, and whereas, it has been shown to my satisfaction that the said accused has absconded.

Proclamation under Section 87 CrPC is hereby made that the said accused Sharif is required to appear before this court to answer the said reference.

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.

The accused, Zardari, made the payment for vehicles, and duties of these vehicles through the accused, Khawaja Anwer Majid and Khawaja Abdul Ghani 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."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020