The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has announced the exoneration of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana vehicle case. Following its investigation, NAB has requested an accountability court in Islamabad to acquit the former prime minister.
The case revolves around a car gifted to Nawaz Sharif by the Saudi government in 1997, which was subsequently deposited in the Toshakhana. However, NAB’s findings reveal that the vehicle in question was later purchased by Nawaz Sharif from the federal transport pool in 2008, not from the Toshakhana, as initially suspected. Additionally, the purchase was not made using a fake bank account.
This development follows NAB’s efforts to submit its report in the Toshakhana case involving President Asif Ali Zardari, former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yusuf Raza Gilani, and others. During a previous hearing, NAB prosecutor Azhar Maqbool explained that Nawaz Sharif was included in the investigation at his request. However, due to the unavailability of NAB’s investigating officers, the submission of the report was delayed.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari’s lawyer argued for immunity for his client, citing his current position as head of state. The case against Zardari and others pertains to allegations of not depositing luxury vehicles and valuable gifts received from foreign leaders into the treasury.
NAB’s investigation revealed that Zardari had only paid 15% of the total cost of vehicles received as gifts through fake accounts. Similarly, both Nawaz Sharif and Yusuf Raza Gilani had received cars as gifts from foreign leaders during their respective tenures as prime ministers, which were not deposited in the treasury as required by law.