Toshakhana case: Court orders release of Nawaz’s assets

ISLAMABAD. The Accountability Court, Islamabad, on Friday directed to release all seized properties and assets owned by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana reference.

Judge Muhammad Bashir heard the Toshakhana reference against Nawaz, and issued an order to return all properties, vehicles, and bank accounts owned by Nawaz.

More than 1,650 canals of agricultural land, a Mercedes, a Land Cruiser and other vehicles were confiscated earlier in 2020 after the accountability court ordered property confiscation.

In 2020, during a hearing of the Toshakhana reference, a report was submitted to the court, providing complete details of the confiscation of assets, shares in companies, and freezing of bank accounts of the PMLN supremo.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had submitted the report, providing complete details of the movable and immovable assets of the former prime minister.

According to the SECP, Nawaz owned 467,950 shares in Muhammad Bakskh Textile Mill, 343,425 shares in Hudabiya Paper Mills, 22,213 shares in Hudabiya Engineering Company, and 48,606 shares in Ittefaq Textile Mills.

He also had eight accounts in various private banks, including three foreign currency accounts.

Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz were accused by NAB of illegally retaining expensive vehicles gifted to them by different foreign states and dignitaries instead of depositing them in the Toshakhana.