Pak SC summons Shehbaz Sharif in corruption case

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Sunday summoned former chief minister of the country's Punjab province Shehbaz Sharif in connection with the case pertaining to corruption in 56 public sector companies.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar resumed hearing of a suo motu case, reported Geo TV.

"Shehbaz Sharif should appear in person and explain how government officials were hired on such high incomes," CJP Mian Saqib Nisar remarked.

In response to this, attorney general Punjab maintaining the innocence of Shehbaz, said that the former Chief Minister did not have any role in the companies.

According to the report, the top judge is said to have observed "Not even a fly flies without his [Shehbaz] order in the province. Please ask your chief minister where he is and when he will appear before the court."

Ordering National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to estimate the wealth of chief executive officers of six companies, the court said, "Please investigate how much property these officials own, so that nation's money can be returned to it."

The NAB had initiated an inquiry into multiple charges against the 56 public limited companies last year in November.

On April 28, the Supreme Court had ordered the heads of 56 public companies, which are being investigated over a corruption probe, to draw salaries as per their pay scale.