NAB seeks UAE’s legal assistance in cases against Sharifs

Pakistan Press Club – ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday sought legal assistance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in cases against the Sharif family, a private TV channel reported.

The NAB requested the UAE government for mutual legal cooperation against the Sharif family and asked for details of the Sharif family business in the UAE. The sources said that the NAB had written a letter to the UAE government seeking details of business and investments of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his children – Hassan and Hussain Nawaz — and sought mutual legal assistance. NAB sent its letter to the UAE government after verification of the accountability court. Earlier, NAB had written a letter to the UAE government but the UAE government had returned it terming it “unverified”.

Meanwhile, NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal directed the NAB officials to complete the inquiry into four cases against the Sharif family within 90 days. According to a private TV channel, the NAB chief gave 90 days to NAB Lahore Director General Saleem Shehzad to complete the inquiries pending against the Sharif family. They included a probe into the Lahore Development Authority plots on the Raiwind Road, Jati Umra residence and the Sharif Trust.

On February 10, 2000, an inquiry was launched into alleged unlawful allotment of LDA plots to Nawaz Sharif. An inquiry was launched by the Anti-Corruption Department in February 2000 and later NAB was tasked to initiate proceedings against the former prime minister and the members of his family over alleged discrepancies in the acquisition of land for the Jati Umra residence.

NAB will complete the inquiry in the next three months. According to NAB, the funds for the road constructed up to the Jati Umra residence came from the District Council and the plans for the road were never approved.