In a recent development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has given a clean chit to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the reference related to Toshakhana vehicles. The decision came during the hearing of the reference against several prominent political figures, including President Asif Zardari and former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Presided over by Judge Nasir Javed Rana, the Accountability Court of Islamabad heard the case regarding the vehicles of Toshakhana. Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer, Rana Muhammad Irfan, appeared before the court, while Arshad Tabreez Advocate represented President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman of Omni Group, Anwar Majeed.
NAB submitted a detailed report to the court concerning the investigation involving Nawaz Sharif. The report stated that the car gifted to Nawaz Sharif by the government of Saudi Arabia in 1997 was initially deposited in Toshakhana before being included in the federal transport pool. It further clarified that Nawaz Sharif had purchased the car from the Federal Transport Pool and not from Toshakhana. Additionally, NAB refuted claims of payment from a fake bank account, asserting that Nawaz Sharif had properly deposited the gifted car in Toshakhana.
The report pleaded for Nawaz Sharif’s acquittal from the Toshakhana reference, stating that there was no basis for pursuing charges against him in this matter.
However, Arshad Tabriz, representing President Asif Ali Zardari, argued that Zardari enjoyed presidential immunity for five years and hence the case could not proceed against him and the co-accused Abdul Ghani Majeed and Anwar Majeed.
Following the arguments, the accountability court adjourned the hearing of the case until May 7. It is pertinent to mention that the reference filed by NAB accused Yousaf Raza Gilani of illegally allotting vehicles to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari and Muslim League (N) leader Nawaz Sharif.
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