Nawaz Sharif surrenders before court, gets bail in Toshakhana case

Former three-time prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday surrendered to the accountability court in Islamabad in connection with the Toshakhana reference and succeeded in securing bail in the case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Approving PML-N Quaid’s bail plea, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir directed Nawaz Sharif to submit million-rupee bail bonds in the court.

Nawaz Sharif appeared before the court after a gap of four years - the years which he spent in self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom. 

Nawaz’s pleader Muhammad Irfan appeared in the court.

قائد مسلم لیگ ن میاں نواز شریف احتساب عدالت پہنچ گئے، صدر مسلم لیگ ن میاں شہبازشریف بھی ہمراہ موجود۔ pic.twitter.com/WsHjsvT5FP

— PMLN (@pmln_org) October 24, 2023

The atmosphere in the court was amicable. Seeing so many people in the court, the judge passed light remarks saying that ‘it’s fun to see so many people in the court’. The entire courtroom burst into laughter.

During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor told the court that since Nawaz Sharif had surrendered to the court, his perpetual arrest warrants could be cancelled.

The court issued notice to the NAB on the application submitted by Nawaz seeking the release of his property in the Toshakhana case.

The court sought arguments in the case on Nov 20.

Earlier in the day, Nawaz Sharif's lawyer filed three petitions in the accountability court, including a request for the release of Nawaz Sharif's annexed property in the Toshakhana reference, and also a request to appoint a pleader in the Toshakhana case. An application was also filed in the court for depositing bail bonds.

Qazi Misbah-ul-Hasan Advocate filed these applications on behalf of Nawaz Sharif.

Courtroom packed to capacity

Today, there was a great rush in the court at the time of the hearing. Nawaz too had to face shoving while entering the courtroom. Lawyers were seen jostling each other.

Along with Nawaz Sharif, other PML-N leaders including party President Shehbaz Sharif, Azam Nazir Tarar, Maryam Nawaz, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khawaja Saad Rafiq and others reached the court.

Due to a large crowd which was accompanying Nawaz, the court staff shut the door of the courtroom.

Due to rush, Nawaz marked his court presence while standing in his seat.

The security was tight and a large contingent of police was also present on the occasion.

Once his presence was marked, the court allowed Nawaz Sharif to leave. He then left for the Islamabad High Court.

Later, the PML-N legal team submitted surety bonds worth Rs1 million to the court.

The surety bonds were submitted by Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

IHC hearing

In the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has extended the bail of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif until October 26 as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) declined to arrest him during the proceedings on Tuesday.

Nawaz Sharif personally appeared before the IHC division bench which took up his applications seeking to secure protective bail and revive his appeals against his conviction in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases.

The courtroom dialogue revolved around NAB's stance, where the Prosecutor General of NAB confirmed that they had no intention of arresting Nawaz Sharif. This assurance came in response to Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb's inquiries regarding the extension of Sharif's security bond.

Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, who presided over the case, expressed frustration at the time-wasting of the court and the nation from the NAB in the case.

Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb asked the NAB prosecutor general, 'Will NAB now say that the charge of corrupt practices still remains [on the accused] but let him go.' He also added that when NAB is not opposing anything, then why appeals are being proceeded?

The Islamabad High Court issued a notice to NAB, seeking further clarification on the matter. As a result, Nawaz Sharif left the courtroom with his bail extended.

Security

Meanwhile, before the appearance of Nawaz Sharif in the accountability court, strict security measures were taken inside and outside the court and a heavy police force was deployed from the judicial complex to the G-11 signal.

A large number of PML-N workers were also present outside the judicial complex, raising slogans in favour of the party leader.

Before Nawaz Sharif's arrival at the accountability court, the bomb disposal staff searched the courtroom completely.

https://twitter.com/pmln_org/status/1716744815705207092

Background

The former premier was convicted in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references and was declared a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicle case, which is pending before an Islamabad accountability court. He was on bail in these cases when he left for the United Kingdom in 2019 on medical grounds.

On his arrival in Islamabad on Saturday (Oct 21) after four years of self-imposed exile, the first thing the PML-N supremo had done was to sign his court applications and complete his biometric verification at the Islamabad International Airport.

It is to be noted that biometric verification is mandatory for filing petitions, civil miscellaneous applications, appeals, replies, and reports on behalf of respondents. The biometric verification can be done at the IHC, Nadra service centres or any kiosk or franchise offering the service.

On July 6, 2018, an accountability judge Mohammad Bashir convicted Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain Safdar Awan in the Avenfield Apartments case investigated by a JIT formed to probe the Panama Papers revelations.

But later, a division bench of the IHC virtually acquitted Nawaz Sharif by declaring the accountability court’s decision incorrect. The detailed court order said that the NAB could not give a satisfactory answer and failed to prove that Nawaz Sharif had purchased the Avenfield Apartments in the name of his daughter and adopted illegal means and that Maryam, being his dependent, had abetted him in concealing the true ownership.

400 security personnel deployed

Due to the arrival of Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad courts, strict security measures have been taken. As many as 400 Islamabad police personnel including FC officials were deputed around the courts.

The security contingent comprised two DPOs, 4 DSPs, 16 SHOs, 20 sub-inspectors, 260 constables, and 173 FC officials.

Barbed wire was installed all around the court building.

Entry of irrelevant persons during the court hearing was banned. Only those lawyers and relevant persons were allowed in the court whose names had already been registered.

Only a few journalists and lawyers were permiitted to enter the courtroom.

 

Reporters Farzana Siddiqu, Rozina Ali and Tayyab Saif