NAB summons sent to Avenfield apartments address in London

LONDON: An accountability court has asked Pakistan High Commission (PHC) to serve bailable arrest warrants to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s children and his son-in-law Captain Safdar at the Avenfield apartments, but none other than Hasan Nawaz lives at the mentioned address making it impossible for the summons to be served in the correct manner.

Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Asma Nawaz and Captain Safdar are living at a separate location and are not at the Avenfield apartments. 

Nawaz Sharif stays with Hasan when in London while others in the family visit Avenfield block regularly and its believed that the whole family stays at this address. Hence, the accountability court sent summons to this address. 

It has created problems for the PHC which can present the summons for Hasan Nawaz to his porter who manages the reception of Avenfield block but PHC officials have no clue where Maryam, Hussain and others are currently staying.

It can be confirmed that out of the four apartments mentioned in the Panama Papers, only Hasan Nawaz’s flat is suitable for accommodation while the other three flats are undergoing maintenance work and are not suitable for lodging. 

A source said that Hussain, Maryam and Safdar have been staying at rented accommodation nearby to be close to Kulsoom Nawaz..

There is not enough space in Hasan Nawaz’s four bedroom apartment to accommodate his siblings and relatives, hence two flats have been rented nearby to accommodate family and relatives. Begum Kulsoom Nawaz has been staying with Hasan since she reached London for treatment and is attended by a doctor and an assistant round the clock while staying at this address.

A source confirmed that bailable arrest warrants for Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and Safdar were sent through “fax and parcel” three days ago and officials of PHC have confirmed the “receipt” to the Foreign Office of Pakistan.

The source said two copies of the warrants for each accused had been received at the high commission. The source said that the high commission delivered the summons and legal notices at Avenfield apartments during the Panama case hearings and the same method was used by Wajid Zia’s cousin Akhtar Raja who sent letters to Hasan and Hussain Nawaz on the same address. 

A PHC spokesman refused to comment when asked if the arrest warrants have been served to the concerned individuals or not.

Nawaz Sharif appeared before the NAB court on Wednesday but Geo News had reported on Saturday, prior to Nawaz Sharif’s departure, that his children will not become part of the accountability proceedings while Nawaz Sharif will seek an exemption from his appearance.

The NAB court has announced to indict the ex-premier on October 2 in cases pertaining to Avenfiled apartments and Azizia Steel Mills against the Sharif family. 

The accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday summoned Maryam Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Captain (R) Mohammad Safdar to appear before the court on October 2 but it’s understood that none will appear before the NAB court because the Sharif family and its supporters say that Nawaz Sharif is being victimised and that he failed to get fair trial at the Supreme Court.