Pak court issues notice to Sharif, Zardari over foreign assets

Lawyer Javed Iqbal Jafri had filed a petition against 64 politicians, alleging they had transferred at least $3,00,000 million to foreign countries through money laundering

A Pakistani court has issued notices to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari and 62 other politicians on a petition seeking direction for them to bring back their assets from abroad.

Lawyer Javed Iqbal Jafri had filed the petition against 64 politicians, alleging they had transferred at least $3,00,000 million to foreign countries through money laundering, causing a huge loss to the national exchequer.

The Lahore High Court yesterday issued notices to the federal government and the 64 politicians, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan for May 29.

The petitioner said these politicians had not yet submitted to the court their affidavits regarding alleged money laundering despite court orders.

He said Pakistan would not have required foreign loans if assets of the politicians were brought back to return the international loan of the country.

He asked the court to issue directions to the politicians to bring back their assets.

Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan adjourned the hearing till May 29 and sought replies from the respondents.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistanis - mostly politicians - had $200 billion in the Swiss banks.