An Islamabad accountability court, under the jurisdiction of NAB Judge Mohammad Bashir, has issued an order to unfreeze the properties of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana reference case. This decision follows an application filed by Nawaz Sharif requesting the court to release his properties, which were previously attached by the Punjab provincial government after he was declared a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana case.
In 2020, the same accountability court had directed the forfeiture of Nawaz Sharif’s assets and properties in connection with the Toshakhana reference. The former prime minister was declared a ‘proclaimed offender,’ and a permanent arrest warrant was issued due to his continued non-appearance in the case. The court had ordered the seizure of various assets, including land, luxury vehicles, and bank accounts.
Last month, Nawaz Sharif was granted bail in the Toshakhana case by the accountability court, where his arrest warrant had been suspended days before his return to Pakistan. The former premier, a three-time prime minister, surrendered before the court, leading to subsequent developments, including the recent order to unfreeze his properties. The details of the court decision indicate a significant development in the legal proceedings related to the Toshakhana reference case.
