Lahore High Court has reserved its verdict on the petition to freeze assets of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif till inquiry against him by the National Accountability Court (NAB) is completed.
The hearing was held by Justice Mamoon-ur-Rasheed on the petition of Barrister Javed Iqbal. Iqbal had filed three petitions in the court asking that the title of ‘sir’ be taken back from Nawaz, his name be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) and his assets be frozen till NAB inquiry, in light of the July 28 Panama Papers verdict, is completed.
LHC on August 22 had issued notices to the federation and Interior Ministry and sought their replies by August 25 over Iqbal’s petition seeking the placement of Nawaz’s name on ECL.
The petition argues Nawaz might try to flee the country due to the investigation against him by NAB.
The former prime minister was disqualified by the Supreme Court in its verdict and had ordered to file references against him, after which NAB summoned him and his sons and daughter.
The Sharifs, however, failed to appear before the bureau; therefore there is a possibility Nawaz would try to flee abroad, the petition said.
Sharif was disqualified under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution over his failure to disclose un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from a UAE-based company.
The court also ordered references against the Sharif family members and other accused in accountability courts.
