PPP, PML-N again on warpath as NAB cases against Nawaz reopened

The decades-old political rivalry between the PPP and PML-N has once again come to the fore, even as the federal law ministry has reopened three NAB (National Accountability Bureau) corruption cases against PML-N leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Islamabad, Sept 3 : The decades-old political rivalry between the PPP and PML-N has once again come to the fore, even as the federal law ministry has reopened three NAB (National Accountability Bureau) corruption cases against PML-N leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif.

The move assumes significance in Islamabad political circles as it has taken place within 10 days of the PML-N leaving the PPP-led coalition.

NAB prosecutor-general Dr Danishwar Malik filed a petition with the Court of Special Judge Central last evening and the first hearing is expected to take place tomorrow.

The NAB comes under the purview of the federal law ministry.

According to reports, the NAB has sought the reopening of the corruption cases pending against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz Sharif and other members of the Sharif family. The cases include those concerning the Hudabia Papers Mills, Ittefaq Foundries and Raiwind Farms, reported The News.

The three corruption references in the Hudaibia Paper Mills, Ittefaq Foundries and Raiwind farms cases against Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and other family members were adjourned for an indefinite period by the accountability court on Aug 21.

In the application, the prosecutor stated that the Aug 21 order of the accountability court about the postponement of the cases was based on the observation that the earlier submission of NAB for the re-opening of these cases in August last year was not duly signed by the bureau chairman. He said the previous submission was made by the deputy prosecutor-general as a competent authority and the point that it was not signed by the NAB chairman was not relevant, and added that the bureau wants to initiate the proceedings pending against the accused.

In the Hudaibia Paper Mills case, besides Mian Nawaz Sharif, the other co-accused include Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Mian Abbas Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, Haroon Pasha and Senator Ishaq Dar. The accused were charged with securing huge amounts as loan in the name of Hudaibia Paper Mills and later using the loan for some other purpose, thus causing a huge loss to the national exchequer.

According to the official spokesman of NAB, an application was filed in the NAB court in Rawalpindi on Aug 2, 2007, for reopening of the cases against Nawaz Sharif but it lingered in the court because of technical objections. "Today (Tuesday) the court decided to reopen the cases," said the spokesman.

The cases are being reopened when Nawaz Sharif's party has nominated Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui as candidate against Asif Ali Zardari for the top slot of the countryand Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and Manzoor Hussain Wattoo have been accused of being active in trying to destabilise the Punjab government.

ANI