A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court on Saturday resumed hearing into a case pertaining to reopening of NAB references against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Giving arguments before the court, Akarm Sheikh, the counsel of Sharif brothers said re-opening of cases against Sharif brothers after a hiatus of 10 years is based on dishonesty and part of campaign of political victimisation.
Akram Sheikh submitted that the NAB can only request for the case; but, notices cannot be issued, as there is stay order by the Lahore High Court on Sharifs’ plea. The NAB court should adjourn the hearing for indefinite period, he stressed. He also gave argument over his summoning in the court and sought NAB’s apology over it.
The prosecutor of NAB said it is the right of the Bureau to request for the reopening of the cases against Sharif family. He said references against Sharif brothers were not withdrawn but only adjourned.
NAB’s lawyer said they would not make apologies as the summons were issued by the court and not by the NAB.
Akram Sheikh argued the NAB prayed to close these cases in 2002 but now, they have remembered after 10 years to prosecute these cases again. He said the cases were used first by General Musharraf and then by President Zardari for political victimisation of Sharif family.
Judge of Accountability Court Abdul Haq queried if Ishaq Dar was an approver against Sharif family in Hudaibia Paper Mills reference. However, Akram Sheikh said he has no knowledge of the same.
The court issued notices to Sharif brothers and adjourned the hearing till September 15.
Later, Akram Sheikh told the media that the references against Sharif family could not be reopened.
He said that the cases have died due to indefinite adjournment and could not be reopened as per law.
He said that they appeared before the court voluntarily and the court asked to file response till September 15.
Sheikh said that the NAB Chairman Fasih Bokhari bowed his head to President Asif Ali Zardari and signed the references to reopen cases against Sharifs. “Bokhari should be felicitated as he had succeeded in saving his job as NAB chief,” he said.
He said the court should not lend its shoulders for the political victimization of any individual. Sheikh said he would argue over the role of the NAB.