NAB to file references against Sharifs before Sept 10

LAHORE: Head of Joint Investigation Team Wajid Zia Wednesday appeared before a Combine Investigation Team (CIT) of National Accountability Bureau at Lahore office and recorded his statement against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his children, sources told The News. 

Wajid Zia, additional director general FIA, who headed the JIT which probed Panama Papers case against the Sharif family, visited the office of NAB Lahore along with the relevant record at around 11.20 am Wednesday. 

Wajid, sources said, responded to NAB queries for almost three hours about alleged money laundering of the Sharif family, their business deals to establish offshore companies abroad, money trail to purchase London flats as well as requests of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) with the foreign countries. 

Besides, they added, Wajid also responded to queries about alleged whooping rise in the assets of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar during the last few years.  According to NAB sources, Wajid endorsed the investigation conducted by the JIT on the orders of Supreme Court. The JIT head also responded to a questionnaire sent to him by the Bureau a few days ago. 

A day earlier, Wajid had appeared before a NAB’s CIT in Rawalpindi and recorded his statement. Statements of other five members of JIT aren’t needed at this stage, NAB sources said, adding; now statement of Wajid Zia as witness would become part of the references to be filed against the Sharifs. 

After recording statement of Wajid, both teams of NAB Lahore as well as NAB Rawalpindi would submit their respective reports to executive board meeting to be held soon after Eidul Azha. 

After approval of the executive board meeting, NAB would file four references against former premier Nawaz Sharif, his children Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz, son-in-law Cap Muhammad Safdar (retd) and Ishaq Dar in the accountability courts before September 10. 

Anti-corruption watchdog would file first reference relating to the Avenfield Properties (Flat No 16 and 16-A, 17 and 17-A Avenfield House, Park Lane, London, second reference relating to establishment of Azizia Steel Company and Hill Metal Company, third reference relating to the companies mentioned in paragraph 9 of the judgment and the fourth reference would be filed against Ishaq Dar for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income. 

It is pertinent to mention that Sharifs as well as Dar didn’t appear before the NAB teams even several notices were issued to them on the pretext that they wouldn’t appear before the Bureau until SC decided their review petition on Panama case judgment of July 28. 

National Bank of Pakistan President Saeed Ahmed, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association Punjab Chairman Javed Kayani, officials of Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), etc have already recorded their statements to NAB.