Court suspends permanent arrest warrants of Hassan, Hussain

Islamabad: The Accountability Court of Islamabad Thursday suspended the permanent arrest warrants of Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, sons of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif in the Panama References.

Accountability Court Islamabad Judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the applications to suspend the arrest warrants of Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz in the Avenfield reference.

On this occasion, the lawyers of Hassan and Hussain, Qazi Misbah Al-Hasan and Rana Irfan Advocate appeared before the court while Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar and Prosecutor Sohail Arif also appeared before the court on behalf of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

During the hearing, the lawyer of Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, Qazi Misbah-ul-Hassan, advocate, gave arguments that Hassan and Hussain Nawaz were declared as proclaimed offenders, their permanent arrest warrants were issued, other accused in these three references were acquitted. Hassan and Hussain Nawaz want to come to Pakistan on March 12 and appear in the accountability court.

Along with this, the lawyer-sanctioned Qazi Misbah requested to suspend the perpetual warrants of Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz.

NAB Prosecutor Sohail Arif gave arguments that the law says that the accused should appear in the court, they have to appear, the warrant of arrest cannot be suspended without it. The meaning of the warrant is to bring the accused Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz to the court. An opportunity should be given to appear in the accountability court.

Defense lawyer Qazi Misbah told the court that there were five accused in Avenfield, accountability court punished three, while Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted three accused.

After which the accountability court had reserved its decision on the applications to suspend the permanent warrants of Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, which was to be heard at 2 o'clock.

However, Judge Nasir Javed Rana of the Accountability Court suspended the perpetual arrest warrants of Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz while pronouncing a reserved judgment after an hour's delay.

The accountability court suspended the permanent arrest warrants of the accused till March 14.

It is pertinent to note that Hassan Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, the sons of Nawaz Sharif, approached the court for suspension of the warrant before returning Pakistan yesterday.

Hussain and Hassan Nawaz have filed applications in NAB references Avenfield, Flagship and Al-Azizia. The accountability court had declared both the accused as Proclaimed Offenders seven years ago.