The UK High Court of Justice has granted permission to Broadsheet to serve freezing orders on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) headquarters and the attorney general in Pakistan as NAB lawyers in London failed to respond to court orders for several weeks.

Broadsheet approached the High Court of Justice as NAB lawyers were not responding to correspondence and the latest court orders. The Pakistani government does not have legal representation in the ongoing litigation.

A couple of weeks ago, the UBL London branch had frozen Pakistan’s account in compliance with an order issued by the London High Court in favour of Broadsheet LLC.

UBL informed Broadsheet LLC and the London High Court in writing that the Pakistan government account, operated by the Pakistan High Commission in London, which had around £1 million in it, has been frozen until further orders from the London High court.

On February 15, 2021, the court had frozen funds up to the value of $1,222,037.90 plus costs to be determined by the court a hearing in June.

The UK High Court of Justice had issued the freezing order with directions that no payments will be released to the Pakistani government by UBL or to any other party from the accounts held by the Pakistan government unless the judgment debt and interest of around £1 million is settled.

The order was made on the application of Broadsheet LLC after the Pakistani government failed to respond to Broadsheet over the payment of the remaining judgment debt. Kaveh Moussavi said nonpayment by the Pakistani government resulted in freezing its assets. He stressed that the court orders will be served during the ongoing week. NAB chairman and accountability aide’s incapability will inflict a big loss upon the Pakistan government.   

Reporter: Asad Malik