ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court, on Tuesday, granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former premier Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana case.
The Accountability Court judge, Muhammad Bashir, while hearing the case, suspended the perpetual arrest warrants of Sharif after he surrendered before the court.
The court granted Sharif bail against surety bonds of Rs1 million and adjourned the hearing till November 20. The NAB had filed the Toshakhana reference against former president Zardari, two former prime ministers, Nawaz and Gillani, and others for allegedly acquiring three vehicles including a BMW 750 Li model 2004, Toyota Lexus Jeep 472 model 2007 gifted by the embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and BMW 760 LI model 2008 gifted by embassy Libya and gifts from Toshakhana - an official treasury where gifts from foreign dignitaries or heads of state are deposited - in violation of rules and regulations.
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani also appeared before the court. The court allowed him to go after marking his attendance.
Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naek filed an application before the court seeking a day’s exception for his client which the court approved. At the start of the hearing, the court directed Sharif to come to the rostrum and mark attendance.
Due to commotion in the courtroom, the judge directed Sharif to leave the courtroom. PML-N leaders, Shehbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Ayaz Sadiq, and Saad Rafique were present in the courtroom during the hearing.
During the hearing, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor, Sohail Arif, told the court that the accused had surrendered; therefore, his arrest warrants should be cancelled.
“If the warrants are cancelled then the trial can move forward,” he said.
The court, subsequently, confirmed Nawaz’s bail in the case against surety bonds of Rs 1 million. The court adjourned the hearing till November 20.
Sharif’s counsel Qazi Misbah filed three different applications before the court. In one application, Sharif’s counsel requested the court to restore the properties of his client confiscated in the Toshakhana case.
The second application field is for the appointment of Sharif’s counsel and the third application field is for submitting Sharif’s surety bonds.
The counsel told the court that his client would appear before the court whenever the court directed him.
The court issued notices to the NAB on Nawaz’s plea against the confiscation of his property and also sought arguments in this regard at the next hearing.
A heavy contingent of police personnel was deployed in and outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) where the Accountability Court and other special courts are located.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023