The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Pakistan has informed the Lahore accountability court that it has recorded the statement of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana reference.
The case involves allegations that former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, to extend illegal benefits to Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari, allowed the retention of vehicles gifted to them by foreign states. The accused allegedly retained the vehicles against a nominal payment of 15% of the total value.
In June 2020, an accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif, who was in self-imposed exile in London. He was declared a proclaimed offender in the case in September 2020. Ahead of his return to Pakistan in October, an accountability court suspended the perpetual arrest warrants, and he was granted bail.
During the recent hearing, Nawaz Sharif’s counsel informed the court that his client had joined the investigation and provided answers to the questionnaire related to the reference. The court adjourned the hearing till December 20.
FBR Reverses Decision to Freeze PIA’s Bank Accounts Amidst Financial Turmoil
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan withdrew its orders to freeze the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) bank accounts, clarifying that this action does not prevent the pursuit of recovery proceedings.
The FBR had frozen 28 PIA accounts amid the airline’s financial crisis. The Pakistan State Oil had also threatened to halt oil supply to PIA due to outstanding dues.
The withdrawal of the freeze comes while a team from the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is in Pakistan to assess flight safety issues. EASA had previously barred PIA from operating flights to Europe after a plane crash in Karachi in 2020, following claims by the former aviation minister that 40% of Pakistani pilots had questionable qualifications.
The FBR’s move to unfreeze the accounts is accompanied by the acknowledgment that recovery proceedings under Section 14(3) of the Federal Excise Act, 2005, could still be pursued. This section relates to the recovery of unpaid duty or erroneously refunded duty.
As PIA faces financial challenges, the government has announced plans for privatization and outsourcing of airport operations. The airline’s operations recently faced disruptions when the Pakistan State Oil cut fuel supply over unpaid dues, resulting in the cancellation of over 500 flights in two weeks. The government is now intensifying decisions regarding PIA’s future, including divestment processes.
