Accountability court summons Sharif family members, Ishaq Dar in remaining references

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court summoned on Thursday former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's family members on September 19 with regards to two corruption references filed against them by the National Accountability Burea (NAB).

Sources said the former premier, his sons Hussain and Hasan have been summoned with regards to the Al Azizia Steel Mills reference whereas the former three, along with Nawaz's daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt(retd) Safdar have been summoned on the same date in light of the London flats reference. 

Dar to appear on Sept 20

Moreover, the court also summoned Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to appear in person with regards to the reference filed against him by NAB for owning assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income. 

Dar has been asked to appear at 9am. 

Earlier on Thursday, Geo News reported that NAB filed all additional documents for the reference against Dar. Sources said the court registrar would scrutinise the reference and send it to the court for trial. 

The court, on Wednesday, had already summoned Nawaz and his two sons on September 19 as well in light of the flagship companies reference. 

Moreover, the court ordered for media persons to not be present during the proceedings, stating that they will be informed of the proceedings by court staff after the hearing concludes. 

NAB, in total, has filed three references against the Sharif family and one against Dar in the accountability court in light of the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case verdict of July 28. 

According to a copy of summons of the flagship companies case against the Sharif family, acquired by Geo News, the former premier has been asked to appear in person at 9am on September 19. It says that Nawaz's presence is necessary to respond to the charges against him.

Moreover, the summons has been sent to Nawaz Sharif's homes in Raiwind and Model Town.

NAB had filed on September 8 three references against the Sharif family and one against Dar.

Moreover, on Wednesday, NAB resubmitted all three references against the Sharif family in the accountability court after the court registrar had raised objections over technical errors present in the references.

The references were filed in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 decision in the Panama Papers case. The bureau was given six weeks, from the date of the court's order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings.

NAB's Rawalpindi branch prepared references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family.

The bureau's Lahore branch prepared a reference on the Sharif family's Avenfield apartments in London and another against Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income.

If convicted, the accused can face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets.