The Accountability Court of Islamabad has suspended the perpetual arrest warrants for Hasan and Hussain Nawaz, the sons of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in three National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references.
Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana delivered the reserved verdict. The court suspended the arrest warrants of the accused till March 14.
Earlier, the court had reserved its verdict on whether to suspend the perpetual arrest warrants issued against Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz.
The defence lawyer, representing the brothers, stated that both Hasan and Hussain Nawaz intended to return to Pakistan and appear before the court on March 12. Therefore, they seek the suspension of the perpetual warrants to facilitate their court appearance.
During the hearing, lawyer Qazi Misbah appeared on behalf of the Nawaz brothers, while NAB prosecutors Sardar Muzaffar, Usman Masood, and Sohail Arif were present in the court. Judge Nasir Javed Rana presided over the proceedings.
Misbah emphasized that Hasan and Hussain Nawaz had expressed their willingness to cooperate with the legal proceedings and appear before the accountability court. He highlighted that other accused in the three references had been acquitted, underscoring the brothers' commitment to resolve the matter through legal means.
The NAB prosecutors did not oppose the request to suspend the perpetual warrants, acknowledging that the purpose of issuing a warrant is to ensure the appearance of the accused in court. They affirmed that if Hasan and Hussain Nawaz intend to return and participate in the proceedings, they should be given the opportunity to do so.
However, NAB Prosecutor Sohail Arif reiterated that the law mandates the appearance of the accused in court and emphasized the importance of compliance with legal procedures. He clarified that the issuance of a warrant is a procedural measure aimed at ensuring the presence of the accused during court proceedings.
The Accountability Court reserved its decision on the petitions of Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, indicating that a ruling on the suspension of the perpetual warrants will be announced at a later date. The outcome of the court's decision will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings concerning the NAB references involving the two brothers.
