Nawaz, sons, Maryam fail to appear before NAB for third time

LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, sons Hasan and Hussain and daughter Maryam Nawaz yet again failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which had summoned it as part of the probe into their offshore properties.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who was also summoned, did not show up at the bureau either.

After the failure of Sharif family members to appear before the accountabily beureu, NAB decided to prepare references against the former prime minister.  

The Sharifs were also to appear in NAB Lahore on early Sunday but did not show up. According to sources, the six-member team of NAB Lahore was waiting for Sharifs to question them over the London properties on Sunday. The team headed by NAB Lahore Director General Shehzad Saleem had summoned Nawaz' children and his son-in-law MNA Captain (retd) Safdar by 2pm.

NAB sources on Monday had said another notice would be issued to the Sharif family members, adding that they will inform the Supreme Court in case they did not appear before them.

The law suggests that three notices be issued with a gap of 15 days for each, sources added.

Earlier, when NAB had summoned Hassan and Hussain Nawaz to file their replies pertaining to the bureau's references against them, the brothers did not show up. Reports stated Hassan and Hussain would not appear until a verdict was passed on the review petitions submitted earlier by the family in the apex court.

NAB was conveyed the same in writing by the Sharif family legal team.

"My client Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has been apprised of the above cited notice today and instructed me to convey his inability to appear before the Combined Investigation Team as has already filed a review petition against the judgment dated 28.07.2017," read the letter.

Investigation completed against NBP president, Sugar Mills Association chairman

NAB has completed questioning from National Bank of Pakistan President Saeed Ahmed and Javed Kiani, a close associate of the Sharif family and chairman of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, though they may be summoned again if need be.

The two face allegations of facilitating money laundering and have also admitted the same, NAB sources said. They were also summoned on Monday.

According to NAB sources, Ahmed was questioned for six hours regarding misuse of two accounts, while Kiyani was grilled for five hours about the transfer of money using his accounts.

In its July 28 verdict, the Supreme Court had ruled to send references against Nawaz Sharif, his children Maryam, Hussain and Hasan, son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar and Ishaq Dar to an accountability court.

In its order, the five-member-bench requested the chief justice of Pakistan to nominate a judge of the Supreme Court to supervise and monitor implementation of the judgment and oversee proceedings of NAB and the accountability court.