Court deadline for Hasan, Hussain Nawaz to show up expires today

ISLAMABAD: The 30-day deadline for Hasan and Hussain Nawaz – sons of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – to show up at an accountability court here has come to an end today.

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

However in the latest move, the court may order seizure of their properties after an expiry of the deadline given to the brothers to turn up before the accountability court.

The accountability court will resume hearing in Hasan and Hussain Nawaz case on Nov 14 (Tuesday) after separating their trial from other members of the family on Oct 9.

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.

Seizure of property

On Oct 11, the anti-graft body had pasted summon notices for Hasan and Hussain Nawaz on the central gate of Sharif family’s residences at Jati Umra and Model Town in Lahore.

The move came after Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal assumed charge as NAB chief on the same day.

The action was prompted by the anti-graft watchdog under the accountability court’s initiative to declare the duo as proclaimed offenders after persistently evading the court proceedings, sources privy to NAB said.

The court had then warned that in case of any apathetic attitude towards its notices, the subpoenas would be published in the newspapers to ensure their appearance before the court. Failure to do so will result in confiscation of property and issuance of further warrants.

Earlier, Hasan Nawaz in apparent self-defence adopted a stance over the court’s ruling that he was a foreign national and NAB orders did not apply on him.

“I and my [elder] brother are foreign national, how can NAB laws could be applied on us. NAB cannot make someone a proclaimed offender, its like catching a black cat in the dark,” he told journalists in London.

He had also claimed of not receiving summons from the anti-graft watchdog at his London residence.

Similar sentiments were also echoed by the former premier’s daughter, stating that her brothers were foreign nationals and Pakistani laws could not be implemented on them.

On the flip side, many PML-N leaders have been making hue and cry about NAB’s actions, viewing it as political victimisation against former PM Sharif and his family members.