Banking court directs Nawaz Sharif’s cousins to appear in loans case

LAHORE: A banking court in Punjab’s capital has directed the cousins of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to appear in person in a defaulting on bank loans case.

Judge Muneer Ahmed Joya approved applications of Tariq Shafi and others for exemption from personal appearance in today’s hearing and directed them to turn up at the next hearing on 24th August.

A counsel representing different banks that started the case against the accused persons for allegedly defaulting on loans stated before the judge that Ittifaq and Kashmir sugar mills obtained loans worth Rs700 million from his clients.

It was submitted that the former premier’s cousins were served multiple notices by the banks to pay back the loan but to no avail. The court, therefore, was requested to order action against them as per relevant laws.

On 30th June, the court of Islamabad had started the process of declaring former premier Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender in a reference related to receiving luxury vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana.

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NAB prosecutor submitted a compliance report to Accountability Judge Asghar Ali stating that the bureau forwarded arrest warrants against Sharif, who is in London, through the Foreign Office.

Observing that the PML-N leader is not joining the trial proceedings intentionally, the judge issued directives for starting the process of declaring him a proclaimed offender over perpetual absence from the hearing.