Saturday, Apr 20, 2024 | Last Update : 06:38 AM IST
Nawaz Sharif returns home to face graft cases
Nawaz Sharif said that he was not afraid of fake cases against him.
Islamabad: Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday reached Islamabad from London to face corruption cases against him.
Mr Sharif immediately left for the Punjab House where he chaired a meeting of party workers and leaders. During the meeting, Nawaz Sharif said that he was not afraid of fake cases against him, adding that the party will not clash with anyone. He also expressed hope for bagging mammoth votes in 2018 general elections.
Nawaz Sharif will appear before the accountability court on Friday (today) to face references filed against him by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with Panama Papers case.
Earlier, Nawaz Sharif complained that there were contradictions in the ‘system of Pakistan’. He said that he was not afraid of prisons as this was not the first time he was encountered with tough scenario, politically. The former premier questioned the toppling of his government in 1999 claiming that the action that was taken against him had no legal backing.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved verdict on Nawaz Sharif’s plea to merge all three NAB references against him. The decision was reserved after lawyers from both sides completed their arguments.
On Wednesday, Nawaz Sharif had submitted additional documents including copy of indictment in Avenfield properties, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investments references in IHC.
Asif Kirmani had submitted a petition in IHC on Mr Sharif’s behalf, stating separate indictments in three corruption cases is against the law therefore, the references should be merged into one.
Mr Sharif’s political future has been in doubt since July when the Supreme Court sacked him following an investigation into corruption allegations against his family, making him the 15th premier in Pakistan’s 70-year history to be ousted before completing a full term.
The allegations against the Prime Minister stemmed from the Panama Papers leak last year, which sparked media frenzy over the luxurious lifestyles and high-end London property portfolio owned by his family.
