ISLAMABAD – An accountability court on Tuesday cancelled prepetual arrest warrants issued for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana case after he surrendered before court.
Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir heard the case when NAB prosecutor said the former prime minister has surrendered, therefore, his warrants should be cancelled to proceed with trial.
Later, the judge cancelled the arrest warrants and adjourned the case.
Earlier in the day, the former three-time premier reached Islamabad from Murree while security at the judicial complex has been tightened in order to avert any untoward situation.
The court had directed Nawaz Sharif to appear before it on October 24 and warned of restoring the perpetual arrest warrant against him.
Reports said the PML-N leader had filed three petitions through his lawyer Misbahul Hasan Advocate. He has sought release of his seized property, besides seeking permission to appoint a pleader and submit surety bonds.
A bomb disposal squad has cleared the courtroom ahead of the appearance while a heavy contingent of Islamabad police has been deployed at the judicial complex.
After appearing before the NAB court, the former prime minister is scheduled to attend hearing of his petitions in Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The former prime minister returned to Pakistan last week after ending his self-imposed exile of four years in London. He also addressed a massive public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan upon his arrival and clarified that he did not wish to take revenge for what he faced in past years.
Before his arrival, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday approved protective bail for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif until October 24, barring authorities from arresting him upon his arrival to Pakistan.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the order on a petition filed by the former prime minister through his lawyer Amjad Parvez.
During the hearing, the lawyer told the chief justice that a graft case against his client had been fixed for hearing on Oct 24. He asked the court to approved the protective bail for Nawaz Sharif.
CJ Farooq in his ruling said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has not raised any objection on protective bail of the PML-N’s supreme leader, who is set to reach Pakistan on Oct 21.
He later approved the bail till Oct 24 and adjourned the hearing till Monday.
Earlier in the day, an accountability court in the federal capital suspended arrest warrants issued for Sharif in Toshakhana case.
