NAB to challenge LHC verdict on Hudaibiya

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to take a big leap forward by challenging Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict in Hudaibiya Paper Mills case.

According to a private television channel report Thursday, NAB will file a petition in Supreme Court against LHC decision to close the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case. Earlier, NAB had filed four corruption references against Sharif family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in accountability court.

NAB had presented Ishaq Dar's statements from the year 2000 when he appeared as an approver in the case against Sharif family. The Sharifs were cleared in two corruption references Hudaibiya Paper Mills and Raiwind Assets references in 2014. Investigation report of NAB in Hudaibiya Paper Mills reference claimed that members of Sharif family deposited money in bank accounts illegally. The accounts were opened in others' names to pay off loans.

However, the reference prepared on ex-President Pervez Musharraf s orders were rejected by a Rawalpindi division bench of LHC due to lack of evidence.

Today, the accountability court has summoned ex-prime minister and his children Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz on September 19 in London flats and Al-Azizia steel mill references. Moreover, Ishaq Dar has also been summoned on September 20.

These references include allegations of corrupt practices in Al-Azizia Steel Mills, London flats and offshore companies. The accountability body followed the directions of top court in Panama case verdict which disqualified Nawaz Sharif from his NA-120 seat as well as premiership under 62 (1) (f). 

Meanwhile, appearing optimistic and expressing confidence in judiciary, Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid on Thursday said that the Supreme Court would take up Hudaibiya Paper Mills' case of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) fails to complete the probe.

Talking to media persons outside the apex court, Rashid asserted that the Hudaibiya is mega corruption case and he would not back off from it.

"My take on corruption is not against a single person but against the entire mafia. Sharif family has been indulged in wrongdoings and making money through illegal means," he remarked.

Expressing confidence in the judiciary, he anticipated that the top court would take up the matter by initiating a trial.

Seeking support in favor of his stand, AML chief said that Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah has called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and apprised him about his reservations on the appointment of the chairman of NAB.

"Shah has also passed on concerns of the opposition with regard to NAB chairman's affinity to a political party," Sheikh Rashid added. - NNI