Accountability Courts of Pakistan

[ghazi52]

Court orders to post adverts summoning Nawaz

Accountability judge gives PML-N supremo 30 days to appear in court


Our Correspondent
October 10, 2020

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: EXPRESS


ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Saturday ordered to post advertisements for the summoning of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in the illegal land allotment case.

“An advertisement should also be posted outside his [Nawaz's] Avenfield apartment,” the accountability court judge added.

As per the court order, non-bailable arrest warrants had been issued against Nawaz, however since the accused was not present at his address in Pakistan, an advertisement should be posted outside his Avenfield residence with the help of Pakistan High Commission in London.

The order further stated that Nawaz should appear before the court within 30-days of the advertisements being posted and he fails to do so, he would be declared an absconder.

It has been written in the court order that the accused Nawaz Sharif should appear in the court within 30 days from the posting of the advertisement, and if he fails to do so he will be declared a fugitive and an absconder.

The court also directed the Foreign Office to submit a report on the implementation of the order against PML-N chief in London on October 15.

The IHC has also summoned Nawaz through an advertisement on November 24. Absence despite an ad-hoc summon will be declared an offence under section 87 of the Criminal Code.

In June, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore filed a reference in the accountability court against the former prime minister in the illegal plot allotment case.

The reference against Nawaz and those accused in the case comprises two volumes and includes 21 witnesses.

 

[ghazi52]

Court issues nonbail arrest warrants against two accused in LNG case

The Frontier Post
/ December 21, 2020


ISLAMABAD (APP): An Accountability Court (AC) on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against two foreigner accused in LNG reference for their continuous disappearance.

AC-II Judge Azam Khan conducted hearing on graft case filed by NAB.

During the course of proceeding, the NAB investigation officer presented the implementation report to the court regarding the summon notices and arrest warrants for two foreigner consultants.


The NAB IO told the court that the notices had been served to the accused through Pakistan High Commission in United Kingdom but they were not appearing deliberately.

At this, the court issued non bailable arrest warrants against the accused including Shana Sadiq and Flip Natman.

The two accused were named by the NAB reference for giving consultation on LNG agreement on basis of dishonesty.

 

[ghazi52]

Court to indict Gilani on Jan 12

The Frontier Post
December 21, 2020

ISLAMABAD (APP): An Accountability Court (AC) on Monday fixed January 12 to indict former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and others in a reference pertaining to illegal award of advertisement campaign contract to a private firm.

AC-II Judge Azam Khan conducted hearing on graft reference filed by NAB. Yousaf Raza Gilani and others accused appeared before the judge and marked their attendances.

However, co-accused didn’t appear before the court at this the judge fixed another date for indictment.

The court directed all accused to ensure their attendances on next hearing and adjourned the case till January 12.

 

[ghazi52]

Ahsan Iqbal indicted in graft case

The Frontier Post
December 22, 2020


ISLAMABAD (APP): An Accountability Court (AC) on Tuesday finally indicted PML-N’s leader Ahsan Iqbal and others in Narowal Sports City Complex reference.

However, the accused denied all the charges against them.

To this, the court asked the prosecution to present its evidence against the named people in graft case. The accused who had been indicted include former minister Ahsan Iqbal, ex-director general Pakistan Sports Complex Akhter Nawaz Ganjera, Sarfaraz Rasool, Asif Sheikh and private contractor Muhammad Ahmed.
AC-III Judge Syed Asghar Ali conducted hearing on the graft reference against above accused filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The accused including Ahsan Iqbal appeared before the court.

At the outset of hearing, the judge read out the charge sheet in presence of the accused.

At this, Ahsan Iqbal objected over the indictment and adopted the stance that first the court should view that whether the case was maintainable or not.

The judge observed that if the defence had any objection they could move petition or talk through his lawyer.

After this, the court framed charges against the accused and adjourned the hearing till January 12.

 

[ghazi52]

‘ECC approves grant for 30 Accountability Courts’

The Frontier Post
January 8, 2021




ISLAMABAD (APP): Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a supplementary grant of Rs. 400.20 million for the establishment of 30 new Accountability Courts out of planned 120 Accountability Courts.

According to the spokesperson, the Ministry of Law and Justice has planned the establishment of 120 Accountability Courts (as per the direction of the Supreme Court of Pakistan) in phases.

 

[ghazi52]

Court testifies another witness against Zardari in Toshakhan case

The Frontier Post
January 13, 2021


ISLAMABAD (APP): Accountability Court (AC) on Wednesday testified another witness in toshakhana reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

AC-III Judge Syed Asghar Ali heard the graft reference filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Asif Zardari, Yousaf Raza Gilani and others. During the hearing, the court noted that Zardari’s lawyer Farouk H. Naek was not available this day for cross examination of witness. The court asked the prosecution to record the statement of another witness. Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi said that the statements of our nine witnesses had been recorded and 2 of them had been cross-examined yet.

NAB prosecutor said that our witness Tahir Gulshan was present in court to this judge recorded the statement of NAB witness. The hearing of the case then adjourned till January 21.

Meanwhile, the AC-I adjourned hearing till January 27, in a graft reference against former finance minister pertaining to assets beyond known sources of income. The hearing was adjourned without proceeding due the leave of AC-I Judge Muhammad Bashir.

 

[ghazi52]

Shahid Khaqan appears before accountability court today

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/web-desk


January 19, 2021


Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the incumbent government will be toppled through the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The erstwhile premier talked to media before appearing in an accountability court in the LNG case and said all flaws in Pakistan need to be revealed in front of all. Broadsheet issue consists of people who took commission, and many individuals are involved in it.

On the other hand, the LNG case was adjourned till January 26 without any proceedings today. The hearing was adjourned owing to Judge Azam Khan’s leave.

 

[ghazi52]

Court adjourns reference against Zardari

The Frontier Post
March 8, 2021

ISLAMABAD (APP): An Accountability Court (AC) on Monday adjourned hearing till March 15, on Thatha Water Supply Scheme reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari and others.

AC-II Judge Muhammad Azam Khan adjourned hearing of the reference connected with fake accounts scam without further proceeding due to the lawyers’ strike.

The court also granted one-day exemption from hearing to Asif Ali Zardari, Abdul Ghani Majeed and Nadeem Bhutto on their lawyers request.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor Irfan Bhola and a prosecution witness also appeared before the court.

Meanwhile, an employee of Asif Ali Zardari associated with Zardari House Islamabad Amjad Ikhlaq approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the NAB’s call up notice through his lawyer Farouk H. Naek.

The petitioner had stated that he had no connection with any transaction of fake bank accounts and the NAB call up notice for March 12, was baseless.

Previously, the notice was served to him for February 17, but he sought time from NAB due to sickness.

However, he was again served call up notice for March 12. The petition prayed the court to stop NAB action against him and grant him post arrest bail in the matter.

 

[ghazi52]

Court adjourns Shehbaz family assets case till May 18

• The court ordered NAB witnesses to ensure their presence on the next date of hearing.

APP
04 May 2021


LAHORE: An accountability court Tuesday adjourned hearing of assets beyond means and money laundering case against the Shehbaz Sharif family till May 18.

Duty Judge Sheikh Sajjad Ahmad conducted the case proceedings, wherein Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz appeared and got his attendance marked.

However, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif did not appear. A counsel for him submitted an application for exemption from personal appearance in the wake of rising coronavirus cases. The court granted one-time exemption while allowing the application. The court directed Shehbaz Sharif to ensure his presence on the next date of hearing, May 18.

The court also ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) witnesses to ensure their presence on the next date of hearing.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had granted bail to Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in the case. NAB had nominated 16 persons as accused in the case. However, only 10, out of 16, had been indicted yet. Besides Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Javeria Ali, Fazl Dad Abbasi, Rashid Karamat, Muhammad Usman, Masroor Anwar, Nisar Ahmad, Shoaib Qamar and Qasim Qayyum had been indicted in the case. However, Suleman Shehbaz, Nusrat Shehbaz, Rabia Imran, Syed Muhammad Tahir Naqvi, Haroon Yousafzai and another could not be indicted due to their absence from court proceedings.

In a reference, comprising 55 volumes, the Bureau alleged that the Shehbaz Sharif family committed massive money laundering of Rs 7 billion.

Yasir Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shahid Rafique and Aftab have been declared approvers in the reference.

 

[ghazi52]

Court adjourns fake accounts reference

• The court adjourned hearing without further proceeding due to the absence of NAB investigation officer and prosecutor.

APP
17 May 2021

ISLAMABAD: An Accountability Court (AC) on Monday adjourned hearing on cases pertaining to fake accounts and a private company B4U.

AC-I Judge Muhammad Bashir heard the case lodged by National Accountability Bureau NAB). The court adjourned hearing without further proceeding due to the absence of NAB investigation officer and prosecutor.

The court heard the separate cases against asset freezing of a co-accused Naheed Manzor and a private company B4U. The NAB had requested the court to freeze the assets of Chaudhary Adam Amin, the owner of B4U company. He was accused of looting the public on the name of investment.

Meanwhile, AC-III Judge Syed Asghar Ali adjourned hearing till June 1, against Omni Group's Abdul Ghani Majeed in reference pertaining to embezzlement in funds of sugar cane growers.

 

[khansaheeb]

We need Military ACCs (Anti-corruption courts) where corrupts who commit heinous acts of corruption against the nation can be fast tracked for hanging or the firing squad. Pakistan has no place for corruption and it needs to be stamped out with a iron fist and taken with Chinese seriousness. The threat of the firing squad or noose will make them think twice. Any companies and nations who bribe or corrupt our people should be blacklisted.

 

[Enigma SIG]

We need Military ACCs (Anti-corruption courts where corrupts who commit heinous acts of corruption against the nation can be fast tracked for changing or the firing squad. Pakistan has no place for corruption and it needs to be stamped out with a iron fist and taken with Chinese seriousness. The threat of the firing squad or noose will make them think twice. Any companies and nations who bribe or corrupt our people should be blacklisted.

The courts themselves have been infiltrated at the highest level by corruption loyalists.

A purge with extreme prejudice is in order.

 

[ghazi52]

Punjab Saaf Pani Company’s reference.


A duty judge of an accountability court on Friday issued a fresh direction to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit details of the assets owned by Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s daughter Rabia and son-in-law Imran Ali Yousaf as they had been declared absconders in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company’s reference.

In the previous hearing, the investigating officer of NAB was directed to initiate proceedings under Section 88 of CrPC against the absconders and also submit details of their moveable and immoveable assets for the attachment accordingly.

However, NAB failed to submit the record on Friday and the duty judge adjourned the hearing till June 19 with a direction to the IO to submit the required record.

Former chairman Raja Qamarul Islam, also a former MPA of the PML-N, former chief executive officer of the company Waseem Ajmal and other suspects appeared before the court.

NAB alleged that Islam, being chairman of the company, was involved in awarding contracts of 84 water filtration plants at higher prices. It said the suspect had got the contracts of 102 plants approved from the company’s board of directors and committed forgery in documents.

The bureau accused Ajmal of violating procurement rules and permitting the installation of the water filtration plants in Dunyapur tehsil beyond the scope of the project.

Both Islam and Ajmal were arrested by NAB in June 2018 and were released on bail granted by the Lahore High Court on Jan 30, 2019.

Islam said NAB had arrested him a day after he was awarded ticket by the PML-N for 2018 general election against former interior minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, the disgruntled leader of the party, from NA-59, Rawalpindi.


Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021

 

[ghazi52]

AC to indict Sindh CM on July 28 in Nooriabad power plant reference

ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court (AC) Islamabad on Wednesday fixed July 28 as the date for indicting Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other accused in Nooriabad power Plant reference.

Murad Ali Shah could not be indicted on Wednesday as Judge Asghar Ali deferred the matter. The judge ordered all the accused to be present on July 29 for the indictment. Sindh chief minister also attended the hearing.

Later, talking to media outside the court, Murad Ali Shah refused to step down, saying he will remain the CM so long as he enjoyed the trust of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership and party members of the Sindh Assembly.

Murad said the provincial government had with it details of assets of the departments tasked with the accountability of politicians. “Even PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said assets of those holding others accountable will also be checked,” he added.

He regretted that the opposition had again started creating problems. Expressing surprise at the conduct of the opposition on the fourth day of the budget session, the CM said, “What happened in the Sindh Assembly (SA) was unfortunate.” He said opposition members of the assembly even did not spare the assembly staff.

Murad said in his opinion TikToker Hareem Shah’s marriage was doing rounds on social media, and not in the provincial assembly, as was being commonly understood. He told the media that he could not be indicted even today due to some legal issues.

Sindh chief minister said that members of the SA belonging to the opposition created lot of uproar during the budget speech. “They (the opposition) did not move a single cut motion,” he said, and added perhaps this was because of the fact that they did not have any objection to the budget.