NAB to recover 8mn pound fine from Sharif in Avenfield case

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has initiated a process for recovery of the eight million pounds fine imposed on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield reference.
Sources revealed on Tuesday that National Accountability Bureau said in its correspondence with deputy commissioners to finalise the modalities to recover the fine amount that court has imposed on Nawaz Sharif with the proceeds of his sale-able properties.
The concerned authorities have been asked to initiate recovery proceedings under provisions of Land Revenue Act 1967 through auction of the convict’s properties.
The eight million pounds fine imposed on Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield reference is estimated at around Rs1.85 billion.
The Bureau has been reported that it has provided details of sale-able properties of Nawaz Sharif to the DCs including a total of 940 Kanals agriculture land at Moza Manak and approximately 299 Kanals farm land at Moza Badoki, over 103 Kanals of land at Moza Mall and about 312 Kanal in Moza Sultanki.
Former prime minister’s properties also included 14 Kanal agriculture land at Mandiali, Sheikhupura and residential house number 135 at Upper Mall Lahore.
The NAB has further stated that the proceeds that will be recovered from the sale of the properties will be used for the development of the country.
Avenfield case
In July 18, an accountability court in Islamabad awarded a 10 years sentence to Nawaz Sharif amid imposing a fine of eight million pounds in a case linked to the Sharif family’s purchase of upscale London flats.
It said the Sharifs could not legitimately show the money trail for the purchase of the luxury properties in London, mostly in the mid-1990s. A copy of the verdict said the Sharif family had failed to prove a legal source of income for the purchase of the Avenfield apartments. The verdict came as a serious blow to PML-N’s troubled campaign ahead of the July 25 elections.
Consequently, Nawaz Sharif filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court against the judgement which was dismissed. Nawaz and his son Hussain Nawaz Sharif were declared proclaimed offenders in the case and arrest warrants were issued against them.
The PML-N founder’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar were accused in the case as well. Maryam has been sentenced to seven years in prison and a fine of two million pounds has been imposed on her. Safdar has, on the other hand, been given a punishment of a year in prison. – TLTP