Feeling the heat of criticism by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan against National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for being “soft” against PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bukhari on Monday said proceedings on cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were “under process” per provisions of National Accountability Ordinance 1999. The NAB chief had on Saturday said that political cases, including those against Sharif family, would not be opened as the country had entered the election year. However, within 48 hours, the NAB chief took a 180 degree turn on his stance. “NAB clarifies that it has not closed even a single case against the Sharif brothers. Three references, including case of willful loan default, Hudaibia Paper Mill, and assets beyond known sources of income, are pending with the Accountability Court. NAB had filed an application to reopen these cases but the court refused to accept NAB’s point of view and adjourned the case sine-die,” said a statement issued by NAB. The statement said in year 2010, NAB again moved an application for recommencement of these cases, but the court rejected NAB’s plea. “Meanwhile, the Sharif brothers moved the honourable Lahore High Court through a writ petition in October 2011, seeking quashment of these references. The court granted stay order in favour of the Sharif brothers,” the statement added. It said the NAB chairman had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of NAB’s prosecutor general accountability to review the reference forwarded through the Crisis Management Cell of the Ministry of Interior. “The committee is at its final stages to formulate the recommendations in the said case. These recommendations would then be presented in the executive board meeting for further proceedings in the case,” the statement added.
NAB chief takes 180 degree turn on Sharifs’ cases within 48 hours
