In a recent development, the two sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, have approached the accountability court seeking the suspension of their arrest warrants in three corruption references associated with the Panama Papers. The references in question pertain to the Avenfield Apartments, Al-Azizia, and Flagship Investment. The objective behind this legal move is to enable them to surrender before the court on March 12.
The application for the suspension of perpetual arrest warrants was filed by the brothers’ counsel, Qazi Misbahul Hassan, in the Islamabad accountability court, where Accountability Judge Nasir Javed Rana is overseeing the proceedings. During the court session, Advocate Qazi Misbahul Hassan highlighted that Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz are currently residents of Saudi Arabia and the UK, respectively. Both were named as accused individuals in these references alongside their father, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and retired Captain Safdar.
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The counsel argued that the trial in these corruption references had commenced when both Hussain and Hassan Nawaz were residing outside Pakistan. Furthermore, he emphasized that they were unaware of the formal legal process, claiming that the state had not followed the due course in serving the legal process, including the issuance of notices, arrest warrants, and proclamations.
Expressing their intention to face trial proceedings, Advocate Qazi Misbah stated that Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz have decided to surrender before the court. According to the counsel, the two sons of the former prime minister are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on March 12. Consequently, they requested the court to suspend their arrest warrants, facilitating their surrender before the legal proceedings.
It is noteworthy that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz had been convicted in the Avenfield reference shortly before the previous general election. Additionally, Nawaz Sharif faced conviction in the Al-Azizia reference in December 2018 but was acquitted in the Flagship Investment reference.
Following their convictions, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and her husband retired Captain Safdar challenged the verdict in the Avenfield reference before the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Subsequently, when Nawaz Sharif did not return after going abroad, the IHC declared him a proclaimed offender. During his stay in the UK, Maryam Nawaz and retired Captain Safdar pursued the case, leading to the IHC eventually setting aside their convictions.
Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan in October of the previous year, resulting in the revival of his appeals against convictions. The IHC, in turn, set aside his convictions in both cases upon his return. The latest legal move by Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz to seek the suspension of their arrest warrants adds another chapter to the complex legal saga surrounding the Sharif family’s corruption references.
