Islamabad, April 17, 2024
In a significant turn of events, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has given a clean chit to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana vehicle reference. This reference revolves around the Toshakhana, a government department responsible for storing gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, and officials by foreign dignitaries.
The case, filed by NAB, alleged that then-Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani extended illegal benefits to Nawaz Sharif and then-President Asif Ali Zardari by allowing them to retain vehicles gifted by foreign states and dignitaries. It was claimed that these vehicles were retained against a nominal payment of 15% of their total value.
Background
In June 2020, an accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif, who was in self-imposed exile in London. Later that year, he was declared a proclaimed offender in the case. However, in October 2020, the perpetual arrest warrants were suspended ahead of Nawaz’s return to Pakistan, and he was granted bail.
NAB’s Findings
Today, the NAB submitted a report to an Islamabad accountability court, detailing its findings. The report stated that the vehicle in question was gifted to Nawaz Sharif by the government of Saudi Arabia in 1997 and was initially submitted to the Toshakhana. However, it was later included in the federal transport pool.
According to the NAB report, in 2008, then-Prime Minister Gilani offered Nawaz Sharif the option to purchase the car, which Nawaz did from the federal transport pool, not the Toshakhana.
NAB’s Conclusion
The NAB report concluded that this case had no relevance to the Toshakhana benefits, as the vehicle was not part of Toshakhana valuables when Nawaz purchased it. The report also emphasized that Nawaz did not make the payment for the vehicle from a fake bank account.
NAB’s Recommendation
Consequently, the NAB has urged the accountability court to acquit or discharge Nawaz Sharif from the reference.
This development marks a significant point in the legal proceedings surrounding Nawaz Sharif, with the NAB’s findings providing clarity on the Toshakhana vehicle reference. The court will now consider the NAB’s recommendation as the case progresses.
For more updates, stay tuned to Dawn.com for the latest developments.
