Court issues written order declaring Nawaz Sharif a fugitive

LAHORE: The Lahore accountability court has issued a written order declaring Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister, a fugitive.

The written order stated that Nawaz Sharif did not appear in court despite repeated summons. The former prime minister did not appear even 30 days after the advertisements were posted.

The court said that there was no other option but to declare Nawaz Sharif a fugitive. Permanent arrest warrants are issued for the arrest of Nawaz Sharif, a written order stated.

The accountability court directed that the concerned SHOs should note the permanent arrest warrant of Nawaz Sharif in the register. To the extent of Nawaz Sharif, the case has been separated from the reference.

NAB should provide details of Nawaz Sharif’s movable and immovable property. Copies of reference will be provided to other accused at the next hearing. The court also ordered foreclosure of Nawaz Sharif’s property. The next hearing of the case will be held on 26th November.

The accountability court had given a month to the former prime minister to appear in the plot allotment case. Nawaz Sharif’s warrants were received and sent to his residence in London.

The NAB had taken a stand in the court that Nawaz Sharif was deliberately not facing the reference. In June 2020, the NAB had filed references against Mir Shakeel, Nawaz Sharif, former Director General Lahore Development Authority (DGLDA) Faiz Rasool, and Mian Bashir.

According to NAB, in 1986, the then Punjab Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif had illegally allotted plots in Block H of Johar Town Phase II. The main accused with the connivance of Nawaz Sharif illegally allotted 54 kanals of land which caused loss to the national exchequer.