Islamabad (Staff Report): The accountability court hearing three corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family has issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Nawaz's children and son-in-law.
The court has summoned the former PM along with his children Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar on Monday (today).
Nawaz appeared before the court, however, his children and son-in-law skipped the third consecutive accountability proceedings.
Nawaz’s lawyer informed the court that former PM’s children could not appear before the court due to their mother’s illness and assured that Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt (retd) MNA Safdar will appear in court in the next hearing.
After hearing the arguments, the court issued non-bailable warrants for Hassan, Hussain and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar, ordering them to appear before the court on October 9. However, bailable arrest warrant have been issued for Maryam.
Around 2,000 personnel of the police and Rangers were deployed in and around the judicial complex where the hearing is taking place.
Media representatives, as well as supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and members of the government, have been barred from entering the judicial complex.
Nawaz was accompanied by his political aide, Senator Asif Kirmani, and only his vehicle was allowed to enter the complex.
The accountability court had summoned Sharif, his children Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, and son-in-law retired Captain Mohammad Safdar on Monday (today) in references pertaining to Avenfield apartments, Azizia Steel Mills and offshore companies filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Judge Mohammad Bashir is conducting the hearing, during which the former premier is expected to be indicted. In the last hearing, the ousted prime minister was provided copies of references against him.
On September 26, the court had also issued bailable arrest warrants for his children and Nawaz's daughter Maryam, sons Hussain and Hasan, and son-in-law as they failed to appear before it, despite two earlier summons.
