Sharifs answerable to UK authorities under anti-graft act: PTI chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Thursday said that Sharif family members may also have to explain about their stashed wealth before the United Kingdom (UK) authorities.

Taking to twitter, the PTI chief said that Sharifs are answerable to UK authorities under the Britain’s Criminal Finances Act 2017.

Casting light on the law, Khan said it specifically deals with the illegal stashed wealth in the UK by foreign bureaucrats and politicians.

The tweets could be possible outcome of recent PML-N assertion that Pakistan laws could not be applied to the foreign nationals in connection with an accountability court proceedings against ex-PM Sharif’s sons, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz, in a graft reference against them.

Earlier, Hasan Nawaz in apparent self-defence adopted a stance that he was a foreign national and NAB

orders did not apply on him.

“I and my [elder] brother are foreign national, how can NAB laws could be applied on us. NAB cannot make someone a proclaimed offender, its like catching a black cat in the dark,” he told journalists in London.

He had also claimed of not receiving summons from the anti-graft watchdog at his London residence.

Similar sentiments were also echoed by the former premier’s daughter, stating that her brothers were foreign nationals and Pakistani laws could not be implemented on them.

On the flip side, many PML-N leaders have termed NAB’s actions as political victimisation against former PM Sharif and his family members.

Court declares Hasan, Hussain fugitive 

On Monday, an accountability court declared ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons – Hussain and Hasan – absconders over their perpetual absence from proceedings.

Judge Muhammad Bashir granted the request of the NAB prosecutor who asked him to initiate proceedings to declare the absconding accused proclaimed offenders and order attachment of their properties.

The prosecutor said Hussain and Hassan have failed to appear before the court despite issuance of non-bailable warrants for their arrest.