Panama case: Pak anti-corruption court indicts Nawaz Sharif, daughter


Islamabad, Oct 19 (Reuters): A Pakistani anti-corruption court, on Thursday, indicted ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter over allegations linked to ownership of London properties, pressing charges over accusations that could see the former leader jailed.

Sharif, 67, resigned in July after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding office over an undeclared source of income, but the veteran leader maintains his grip on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.

A Reuters witness in court said Sharif, his daughter Maryam, as well as her husband Muhammad Safdar, had all been indicted by a court of the anti-corruption agency, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

They all pleaded not guilty. Maryam and Safdar were present in court, but Sharif sent a representative while he tends to his ailing wife in Britain as she undergoes cancer treatment.

Sharif’s disqualification stemmed from the Panama Papers leaks in 2016 that appeared to show that his daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands and used them to buy posh flats in London.

The Supreme Court initially declined to dismiss Sharif but ordered an investigation into his family’s wealth. After the probe, it disqualified him and ordered the NAB to investigate and conduct a trial.

A separate Supreme Court-appointed panel said the family’s wealth did not match its income, and accused Maryam and her brothers of signing forged documents to obscure ownership of offshore companies used to buy the London flats.

  

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Comment on this article

  • leslie, udupi

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    It is sad to see leaders pleading for wealth not deserved...
    Pak or India...
    All turns of the same coin...
    Jaan jaanewaali magar jigar fir bi baaki...

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  • SMR, Karkala

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    P M Modi speaks of eradicating corruption during his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programmes but has remained silent on the Panama Paper leaks.Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson has already resigned under public pressure. More heads are expected to voluntarily submit confessionals. What action did Modi had been taken against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh over the Panama Papers issue which forced Nawaz Sharif to quit as Pakistani prime minister?
    Compared to the promptitude with which international governments have responded, Modi's India appears to be near-comatose following the damning revelations. I wonder why.
    A seeming disinterestedness seems to be prevailing in large sections of the Indian media. It is almost like a conspiracy of hush-whisperers.Interestingly, among the illustrious names figuring in this controversial list are those who have an unusual interest in gold mines, oil contracts and natural resources.
    Interestingly, Mr. Modi's neighbouring counterpart, Pakistan PM Sharif, seems in a definite predicament over the leakages. Besides the usual ballyhoo, Modi Sarkar has been lukewarm, if not altogether indifferent to the parallel economy that generates siphoned funds from domestic shores, or converted funds that enter local territories through the Mauritius route. Money laundering, tax evasion, illegal activities all have darling deals, usually having a bureaucrat-business-political nexus. But there is a spectacular silence on Panama Papers. Why?

    Of course, India has completely forgotten the Lok Pal, an issue on which TV channels hyperventilated 24 X 7 in 2011. Both Modi and Kejriwal made a massive political windfall using the corruption bandwagon. Today, they have contumaciously dumped the Lok Pal bill. It is this brazen hypocrisy and chronic myopia that is costing India dear.
    Jaitley says, "The guilty will get sleepless nights". Right now though, Modi Sarkar seems to be blissfully snoring away.
    It is time civil society got into the act.
    Jai Hind

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  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    Indian courts and judicial system has much to learn from Pakistan..

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Surendra Poojari, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    Our Indian politicians are all innocent. Even after having several cases our politicians and their families are safe. Nawaz Sharif should have born in India then he would have been very safe. PM Modi are you listening? Hope you are aware of Sharif's case and you are keeping quiet on corruption by BJP and Congress. When are you going to arrest Vadra?

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  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    We have bigger fishes in India ...

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nithin Poojary, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 19 2017

    Raman Singh and his son are innocent.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse


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