Islamabad: In a temporary relief to Nawaz Sharif, an accountability court in Pakistan has ordered authorities to release all movable and immovable properties seized from the former prime minister in 2020 in connection with a corruption case. Judge Muhammad Bashir of the Islamabad accountability court on Friday heard the Toshakhana corruption case against the 73-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo who returned to Pakistan on October 21 after about four years of self-imposed exile in London, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
In 2020, an accountability court ordered the confiscation of the property owned by the former prime minister in the Toshakhana vehicles reference after he was declared an absconder by the Islamabad High Court. Accountability judge Bashir was informed that since Sharif had surrendered and his warrant of arrest had been cancelled, the order for attachment of his properties may be withdrawn.
Misbahul Hasan Qazi, the counsel for Sharif, informed the judge that his client had gone abroad for his medical treatment with the permission of the high court. However, a National Accountability Bureau case was filed against him and proceedings for attachment of his properties were initiated. The Toshakhana case file against Sharif accuses him of obtaining a vehicle from Toshakhana (the gift depository) by paying 15 per cent of the price of the car. According to reports, Sharif was not holding any public office in 2008 but was given a vehicle without any justification.
A gift from any country to the head of the state and deposited in the Toshakhana remains the property of the government unless sold at an open auction. Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a market value of less than Rs10,000 without paying anything. More than 1,650 canals (over 200 acres) of agricultural land, a Mercedes Benz car, a Land Cruiser, and other vehicles were confiscated by the three-time prime minister in 2020 after he was declared a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana case, according to the report.