ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has formally requested the court to clear former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of charges related to the Toshakhana vehicles case.
During the proceedings presided over by Judge Nasir Javed Rana in the Accountability Court of Islamabad, NAB presented its findings concerning the investigation involving Nawaz Sharif.
According to NAB’s report, in 1997, the Saudi Arabian government gifted a car to then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which he subsequently deposited in Toshakhana. Later, the vehicle was transferred to the federal transport pool. In 2008, then Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani offered to sell the car to Sharif, who purchased it from the Federal Transport Pool, not Toshakhana, and made the payment through legitimate means.
NAB’s report concludes that Nawaz Sharif’s acquisition of the car was lawful and not connected to any illicit financial activities. Therefore, NAB has urged the court to absolve Nawaz Sharif of any wrongdoing in the Toshakhana case.
Additionally, during the hearing, Arshad Tabraiz, representing President Asif Ali Zardari, argued that Zardari enjoys presidential immunity for five years, which would extend to co-accused Abdul Ghani Majeed and Anwar Majeed.
The court has reserved its decision on this matter for the next hearing scheduled for May 7.
Previously, on March 19, the court had requested a report from NAB regarding the Toshakhana case involving valuable vehicles and gifts allegedly received by President Asif Ali Zardari, former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yusuf Raza Gilani, and other accused individuals.
During the previous hearing, the accountability court had summoned the investigating officer in the Toshakhana vehicles case to appear on March 19, concerning co-accused Zardari, Gilani, Sharif, and others.
