Order NAB to reopen Hudaibiya case, AML chief petitions SC

ISLAMABAD: Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed, one of the three petitioners in the Panama Papers case, has submitted a petition in the Supreme Court against National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) failure to reopen the Hudaibiya Paper Mill case. 

The petition states that on July 21, during hearing of the Panama Papers case, NAB had informed the apex court it would reply in seven days regarding reopening of the Hudaibiya case. However, the bureau failed to reply in the stated time period and NAB chairman was even sent a notice in this regard but that too has yet to be replied to, the petitioner claims.   

Moreover, it has been stated in the petition that the apex court also directed for probing the Hudaibiya case in its July 28 judgment.

Rasheed, in his petition, has appealed for the apex court to ensure that its order regarding the NAB probe is implemented. It claims further that NAB is creating hindrances in the implementation of the court's order by not reopening the Hudaibiya case. 

Rasheed has further stated in his petition that if the case is not reopened by NAB, money laundering in the country will be strengthened. 

Addressing the media outside the court, Rasheed said rumours are circulating that another NRO (National Reconciliation Order) is being prepared. 

"Attempts are being made to save people’s assets," he claimed. 

As long this assembly is here, Articles 62, 63 are not going anywhere, he said, adding that Maulana Fazlur Rehman has also expressed support for Articles 62, 63. He was referring to potential moves by the government to amend the constitutional clauses after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister under Article 62 of the Constitution. 

Hudaibiya Paper Mills case

The Hudaibiya Paper Mills were allegedly used as a cover by the Sharif family to launder money outside the country in the 1990s. 

It was in relation to this case that the Sharif family's trusted aide, Ishaq Dar, recorded a confessional statement on April 25, 2000 in front of a magistrate in Lahore.

On the basis of that confession, a reference was filed by the NAB before an accountability court against the Hudabiya Paper Mills, three Sharif brothers, Dar and others.

That reference was struck down by the Lahore High Court on March 11, 2014 in response to a writ petition filed in 2011. 

Dar had claimed that he had made the 'confession' in duress and disowned the statement.