NAB team to collect evidence of Sharif properties from London

A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team is likely to leave for London to collect evidence of properties belonging to ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family, the media reported on Tuesday.

An official source told Dawn news that the bureau was sending its team in pursuance of the letters it had written to the UK authorities in connection with a mutual legal agreement.

"Since the NAB has not yet received a reply from the UK authorities, it has decided to pursue the matter in person," the source said, adding that the team would make sure of its return before Friday to submit a report to the accountability court in Islamabad in connection with the indictment of Sharif, his daughter Maryam and sons Hassan and Hussain.

The "Volume-10" of the Joint Investigation Team report is said to have dealt with the mutual legal business agreements between the Sharif family and different foreign governments.

Meanwhile, the NAB has initiated the process of obtaining red warrants for Hassan and Hussain from Interpol.

"After receiving the court's order declaring Hassan and Hussain proclaimed offenders, the NAB is writing to the Interior Ministry to take up the matter with the Interpol for issuance of their red warrants," the source told Dawn news.

NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Chaudhry Khaliquz Zaman said that since Sharif's sons were declared proclaimed offenders, their properties in Pakistan would be attached.

He said that once the red warrants were issued, the NAB would take up the matter with the UK authorities for their extradition.

At present, there is no extradition treaty between Pakistan and Britain.

"Having no extradition treaty between the two countries will help Hassan and Hussain escape arrest there and accountability here. NAB will have one option once their red warrants are issued, but to file an extradition petition in a London's court," Zaman told Dawn news.

On Monday, the accountability court declared Hassan and Hussain proclaimed offenders for repeatedly failing to appear before it.

It also issued perpetual warrants for them and separated their trial from Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law aptain Mohammad Safdar (retd).

--IANS

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