Accountability Court adjourns proclamation proceedings against Hussain, Hassan

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing to declare former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons – Hussain and Hassan – as proclaimed offenders over their perpetual absence from the trial proceedings in three references filed against them. 

Judge Muhammad Bashir has initiated proceedings to declare both the brothers as proclaimed offenders for failing to appear before the court in compliance with the court summons.

NAB’s investigation officers, Mehboob Alam and Muhammad Kamran, who are investigating Al Azizia & Hill Metal Establishment and Flagship Investment Ltd cases, respectively, recorded their statements.

They told the judge that they have executed proclamation process against them both, but they have intentionally failed to appear before the court and avoided their arrest.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Wednesday (tomorrow) when it will record the statement of the investigation officer in the third case against the Sharif family members. He is likely to declare Hussain and Hassan as proclaimed offender tomorrow.

On October 2, the court had issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of both accused to appear before it, but they did not turn up. As a result, the court initiated proceedings to declare them as proclaimed offenders and separated their trial from other accused of the accountability references. Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and her spouse Capt (retd) Safdar are other accused in references.

The 30-day deadline for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz – sons of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – to show up before an accountability court has also been expired.

The court had already declared the brothers as absconders for their perpetual absence during the proceedings after issuing their non-bailable arrest warrants.

Judge Muhammad Bashir had granted the request of the NAB prosecutor for initiating proceedings to declare the absconding accused proclaimed offenders and order attachment of their properties.

Hasan and Hussain are accused in all three references filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the Sharif family on the order of the Supreme Court in Panama Papers case verdict.