Nawaz reaches Islamabad, to appear before accountability court on Tuesday

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, along with Maryam Nawaz, reached Islamabad from Lahore on Monday to appear before the accountability court on Tuesday. 

Nawaz held a meeting at Punjab house to discuss political strategy and course of action for the general elections in 2018.

Delimitations issue

The PML-N president formed a five-member committee for contacting political parties on a constitutional amendment bill regarding new delimitations, sources said. The committee includes National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Law Minister Zahid Hamid, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ameer Muqam and Abdul Qadir Baloch.

The committee was directed to contact concerned political parties and present its report, they added.

The meeting, chaired by the former prime minister, also had Maryam Nawaz and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in presence, with the latter also presenting his suggestion on various issues, according to sources.

Nawaz directed party affiliates to make the process of new delimitations possible in any case.

'Timely elections'

Sources further informed the PML-N president said they would not let the elections be delayed in any case.

"Timely conduct of general elections must be ensured," he was quoted as saying.

The ruling party has also prepared an alternate strategy in case rest of the parties refuse to cooperate with it on new delimitations, they said.

'Nawaz advised to appear before court'

The former premier also held consultation with his lawyers pertaining to Tuesday's hearing of cases against him and his family by an accountability court, sources said.

The legal team advised him to appear before the court, after which he is likely to attend Tuesday's proceedings, they added.

Earlier on October 26, the accountability court hearing corruption references against the Sharif family issued bailable warrants for former premier Nawaz Sharif in two references.

Bailable warrants issued for Nawaz; hearing adjourned until Nov 3

Warrants issued with regards to Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment Ltd references against Nawaz; notices sent to former PM's bail guarantor in London flats reference

The hearing was then adjourned until November 3, with the last chance for the former premier to ensure his presence in court. 

The cases have been filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court's order in the Panama Papers case.

At the hearing on October 19, Nawaz, in his absence, was indicted in the Avenfield properties case alongside Maryam and Safdar.

Nawaz has also been indicted in the two other references against him.

As Nawaz was in London, he was represented by his legal representative Zafir Khan who heard the charges and pleaded not guilty. 

The references

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

The anti-graft body was given six weeks, from the date of the apex court's order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the accountability court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings.

The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.

Maryam and Safdar are only nominated in the London properties reference. At an earlier hearing, the court also approved Maryam and Safdar's bail in the Avenfiled properties case and ordered them to submit surety bonds worth Rs5 million each.

Safdar was also directed to take the court's permission before leaving the country from now on. The judge also provided a copy of the reference — spread over 53 volumes — to Maryam and Safdar.

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

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

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