The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recently absolved former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of any wrongdoing in the Toshakhana vehicle reference, a significant development in a case that had drawn attention due to its implications on political figures in Pakistan.
The Toshakhana serves as a repository for gifts bestowed upon rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by foreign heads of state and dignitaries. The case alleged that former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani facilitated the retention of vehicles gifted to Nawaz Sharif and then-President Asif Ali Zardari through illicit means, bypassing established procedures for gift submission to the Toshakhana.
The accusations outlined that Nawaz and Zardari retained these vehicles at a mere 15% of their total value, exploiting their positions for personal gain. This led to legal ramifications, including non-bailable arrest warrants issued against Nawaz in June 2020, during which he was in self-imposed exile in London, subsequently becoming a proclaimed offender in September of the same year.
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However, ahead of his return to Pakistan in October, the perpetual arrest warrants were suspended, and he was granted bail shortly after. The NAB proceeded with its investigation, recording Nawaz’s statement and eventually submitting a report to the Islamabad accountability court as per its directives.
In its report, the NAB recommended acquitting Nawaz from the Toshakhana reference. The basis for this recommendation stemmed from the fact that the specific vehicle in question was not originally part of the Toshakhana; it was a gift from the Saudi government in 1997, which Nawaz later purchased from the federal transport pool, not via any illicit means or fake accounts.
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This development came after NAB had requested additional time during a previous hearing to compile and submit the report comprehensively. The prosecutor highlighted Nawaz’s inclusion in the probe at his own request, underscoring the investigative nature of the process and the need for thorough examination before deciding on prosecutorial measures.
Overall, the NAB’s exoneration of Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana case reflects a complex legal journey marked by accusations, warrants, and subsequent investigations, culminating in a conclusion favoring the former Prime Minister based on legal and procedural assessments.