ISLAMABAD: An accountability court took action on Thursday by suspending the arrest warrants issued for Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, the sons of Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), in the Al-Azizia, Flagship, and Avenfield cases.
The decision was announced by Judge Nasir Javed Rana, who had reserved the verdict earlier in the day. The warrants have been put on hold until March 14, according to the ruling.
These warrants were initially issued seven years ago when the court declared the brothers as absconders. In today’s proceedings, the brothers were represented by their lawyer Qazi Misbah, while National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutors Sardar Muzaffar, Usman Masood, and Sohail Arif were also present.
The plea to suspend the warrants was filed as both brothers plan to return to Pakistan on March 12. Their lawyer, Misbah, disclosed this development during the hearing of the Toshakhana reference filed against Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, where they are accused of violating Toshakhana rules by retaining various vehicles.
Misbah argued that both brothers were declared absconders in the case, with perpetual warrants issued against them. He informed the court that all other accused in the three references were acquitted. Hasan and Hussain expressed their intention to return to Pakistan this month and requested the court to suspend their perpetual warrants.
Arif, an NAB prosecutor, insisted that the accused should appear in court as required by law. He stated that the purpose of the warrant is to ensure the accused appear in court and asserted that both brothers should be given the opportunity to do so.
After both sides presented their arguments, the accountability court reserved its decision on the petitions.
