NAB postpones Shehbaz Sharif's arrest after unsuccessful raid

LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has postponed the arrest of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif after it emerged that he was not present at his Jati Umrah residence, where the accountability watchdog’s team planned to conduct the second raid after failure to arrest him from his Model Colony residence, ARY NEWS reported.

The team that was supposed to raid the Jati Umrah residence was directed to return as a consultative meeting is under progress at NAB Lahore bureau.

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According to NAB sources, Shehbaz Sharif is not present at his Jati Umrah residence.

Earlier in the day, the NAB team raided the residence of Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to arrest him after he refused to appear before the accountability watchdog in assets beyond known income case.

According to details, the NAB team has entered the residence of the opposition leader as police cordoned it off to avoid any hindrances from PML-N leaders and activists.

The NAB team carried out a raid at the residence of Shehbaz Sharif after he refused to appear before the accountability watchdog in assets beyond means case. He, however, opted to submit a written statement to the accountability watchdog in response to a questionnaire handed over to him.

Several party leaders including PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has reached outside the residence of the party leader.

However, the NAB team’s raid at the Model residence, 96-H, of the party leader proved futile after it emerged that he was not present there.

It was later conveyed to the NAB team that the opposition leader was present at his Jati Umrah residence after which the team left for there to arrest the PML-N president.

It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking interim bail in the assets beyond means and money laundering case.

Sharif through his lawyer Amjad Pervaiz moved the bail petition, citing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal and others as respondents.

He claimed in his petition that the corruption watchdog’s assets beyond means case against him is based on mala fide intentions. It launched the probe against him under the incumbent government’s influence, he alleged.

This is a developing story and we will add more details as we get them.