NAB summons Ishaq Dar, two close aides of deposed PM on August 23

RAWALPINDI: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has summoned Finance Minister Ishaq Dar besides ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s cousin Tariq Shafi and Musa Ghani in connections with stashing Sharif family’s offshore wealth.

Ex-PM Sharif has been disqualified after the Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) unveiled Sharif family’s concealed offshore assets but his disqualification seems to be haunting the Sharif family as an aftermath.

In the latest development, the anti-corruption watchdog has served subpoenas to three close aides of deposed PM Sharif including Ishaq Dar, Tariq Shafi, and Musa Ghani.

The notices to trio have been dispatched to their residences in Lahore.

Ousted PM’s close aides have been asked to appear before the NAB on August 23 in Rawalpindi.

Earlier, the NAB Rawalpindi had summoned former premier Nawaz Sharif, his sons Hussain Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz for investigation in Azizia Mills case on August 18. The NAB team will travel to Lahore to record the trio’s statement.

It is pertinent to note here that the Panamagate JIT formed on the orders of Supreme Court, in its final report, had said that Hussain Nawaz failed to produce any evidence or means establishing his personal capacity of meeting SAR 90.4 million equity requirements as his share in the sale proceeds of Al Azizia Steel Company fell well short of this requirement.

“Despite repeated requests, respondent No. 7 (Hussain Nawaz) didn’t produce the relevant corporate record so it is not possible to ascertain the legal status of HME whether it’s a sole proprietorship, partnership or a company limited by shares,” stated the JIT report.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 28 removed prime minister Nawaz Sharif from office in a unanimous verdict.

SC’s larger bench had unanimously deemed Sharif unfit for holding public office and said that it will also order an accountability court to open references against him and his family.