ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court hearing multi-billion rupees fake bank accounts case, on Tuesday, directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to complete confiscation of movable and immovable properties of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference till October 29.

The Accountability Court Judge, Asghar Ali, on September 9, while hearing the case, had declared Sharif a proclaimed offender over failing to appear before the court, despite being summoned multiple times, and had indicted former president Asif Ali Zardari, former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and others in the same case.

The court on October 2, after the NAB submitted details of properties, bank accounts and vehicles of Sharif, had ordered seizure of Sharif's properties. The investigation officer (IO) of the NAB submitted a report before the Accountability Court Judge, Asghar Ali regarding confiscation of Sharif's properties before the court, and informed that the implementation of court orders regarding confiscation of Sharif's properties was underway, and court orders to seize has not yet been fully implemented.

At this, the court directed the NAB to complete confiscation of Sharif's properties till the next hearing to be held on October 29. The report submitted by the NAB before the court revealed that Nawaz Sharif owns Rs 343,425 worth of shares in Hudaibiya Paper Mills, Rs 467,950 worth of shares in Muhammad Baksh Textile Mills, Rs 48,606 worth of shares in Ittefaq Textile Mills, and shares worth Rs 22,213 in Hudaibiya Engineering Company.

The former premier also owns one Land Cruiser, two Mercedes, and two tractors, according to the report. It said the former premier and his dependents had properties in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Murree, and Abbottabad. Those properties included a bungalow in Murree, 15-kanal residence in Changla Gali in Galyat, and properties in Lahore's Upper Mall area.

A total of 1,752 kanals of land is registered in the name of Mian Nawaz Sharif and his dependents.

Earlier, during the hearing counsels of Zardari, former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza and Khawaja Anwer Majeed filed an applications before the court seeking one-day exemption for their clients from personal appearance before it, which the court approved.

The court did not record statements of prosecution witnesses due to protest of the Islamabad Bar Association, and adjourned hearing of the case till October 29.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020