NAB approves four references to file against Sharif family, Dar

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday decided to file four references against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his children and son-in-law besides Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in compliance with the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict in the Panamagate case, ARY News reported.

NAB chairman presided over a meeting of the executive board.

The executive board of the national anti-graft watchdog decided to give go-ahead to filing of the references in relevant accountability court.

Earlier, NAB Lahore office had reportedly prepared four references against members of the Sharif family and Ishaq Dar and subsequently forwarded to the NAB Executive Board for approval.

Three of the references are against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his children – Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and his son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar with regard to their offshore properties. The fourth reference against Ishaq Dar is related to the possession of assets disproportionate to his means.

The NAB had summoned the Sharif family and the finance minister to appear before its investigators in connection with the probe into the family’s offshore properties multiple times but they failed to show up.

A five-judge bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 28 announced a judgment in Panamagate case, disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister.

Soon after the SC judgement, the PM House issued a terse statement saying that Nawaz Sharif, despite having reservations on the court verdict, has stepped down from his post as the premier.

Sharif served as prime minister twice in the 1990s before he was ousted in a 1999 coup leading to a decade of exile. He won a third term as prime minister in May 2013 general election.

Under the court orders, the NAB was tasked to file references against Nawaz Sharif, his children – Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz, her spouse retired Capt Muhammad Safdar as well as Ishaq Dar.