National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday produces property and shares documents owned by Sharif family before the Lahore High Court which it had confiscated to recover fine imposed on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif by special courts in cases of plane hijacking and purchase of a Russian helicopter.
The court adjourned the proceedings of seven identical appeals of Sharif family against national accountability bureau to September 27. The bench handed over the property documents to LHC deputy registrar judicial who in the presence of representatives from appellants and NAB will deal with them and report to the court after verifying the same.
The bench also issued notice to the appellants on an application of the bureau that requested the court to implead federal government in the case as the property and shares of the appellants were seized on the direction of the government.
As far as submission of Rs 115 million cheque against seized cash amount was concerned, the NAB told the court that in the absence of bureau's chairman/acting chairman it was not feasible to get a cheque issued in the name of deputy registrar of the High Court.
Punjab additional director of the bureau Muhammad Ahtram Dar, however, informed the court that the amount of Rs 115 million owned by the Sharif family was deposited at National Bank of Pakistan, PM secretariat branch Islamabad. He said the amount was deposited through treasury challan on April 23, 2001 under account no. 1231003 (Justice-General Fees & Fines).
At this the court directed NAB officer to produce on next hearing a certificate from the NBP to the effect that at least the amount of Rs 115 million was still in the said account. And the bank shall not allow withdrawal of said amount till further orders of the court. Advocate Talib Rizvi representing the NAB argued that the bureau was told that the belongings of the appellants were to be seized following an agreement with the federal government.
Appellant's counsel Advocate Shahid Hamid received notice in the court and sought time to file reply to this application. Sharif family had taken plea that the NAB was not releasing their properties seized in 2001 in order to recover fine imposed by an accountability court and an anti terrorism court on PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif in cases of plane hijacking and purchase of a Russian helicopter.
Among other appellants are, Sabina Abbas, daughter of Mian Abbas, Hudabiya Paper Mills, Hudabiya Engineering Services, Chaudhry Sugar Mills, Ramzan Sugar Mills and Hamza Spinning Mills. An accountability court on July 22, 2000 sentenced Mian Nawaz Sharif to 14 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 20 million fine in helicopter case. While in plane hijacking case, an anti terrorism court of Karachi had convicted him on April 6, 2000, and awarded him life imprisonment, Rs 500,000 fine and attachment of his movable and immovable property. The conviction, however, was set aside by Supreme Court.
The appellants submitted that despite the conviction was set aside by the apex court, the NAB was not releasing their seized properties and resorted to coercive measures against them. In petition filed by Hudabiya Paper Mills through its Secretary Syed Ajmal Sibtain and 15 shareholders, all members of the Sharif family, the company sought recovery of 7.07 million share certificates attached by Mohammad Shabbir Khan, the then director of NAB in Lahore on May 16, 2001, to recover the fine.
The petition of Shahbaz Sharif was filed by Tariq Dastagir Khan seeking recovery of original sale deed executed by Murree Improvement Trust in Shahbaz's favour of a plot No 53-C of Damaged Area Scheme in Murree. The agreement was seized by Lahore NAB authorities on January 16, 2002.
Sabina Abbas, daughter of Mian Abbas, sought detachment of sale deed of May 12, 1984, registered with sub-registrar of Murree in favour of the petitioner in respect of property No 54 on the Hill Road in Murree. Chaudhry Sugar Mills, through its secretary Syed Ajmal Sibtain, sought the recovery of its Rs 5 million acquired by the Lahore NAB on April 6, 2002, through cross cheques.
Ramzan Sugar Mills sought recovery of Rs 110 million taken by the bureau in 2001 and 2002 through six bank transactions. Hudabiya Engineering Services, through its Secretary Syed Ajmal Sibtain, sought recovery of its 204,500 share certificates attached by NAB in Lahore on May 16, 2001.
The Hamza Spinning Mills, through its Secretary Tariq Dastagir Khan, sought recovery of its 2.735 million share certificates. The appellants argued that it was unlawful on the part of NAB to recover the fines imposed on Nawaz Sharif from other members of his family. They said after the clearance of Nawaz Sharif from the apex court, NAB should have released the attached property and shares, but despite repeated applications it had failed to do so.
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