ISLAMABAD: Nov 02 (TNS): Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is chairing a consultative meeting with party leaders and government officials at Punjab House.
Nawaz reached Punjab House earlier after arriving at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport from London early Thursday morning.
He is expected to appear in the accountability court tomorrow that is hearing corruption cases against him and his family.
Contrary to earlier reports, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is now expected to serve a court summons to Nawaz at the Punjab House around noon.
Earlier, it was reported that NAB officials would meet Nawaz as soon as he disembarks to make him personally receive the summons from the accountability court. The NAB wrote a letter to the airport management and security officials in this regard on Wednesday.
However, it was reported later that DG NAB Rawalpindi Nasir Iqbal instructed his team not to go to the airport and instead serve the summons at Punjab House.
Strict security arrangements were in place at the airport ahead of the former premier’s arrival.
After landing, Nawaz proceeded to the VIP Rawal Lounge where he held a brief meeting with the party leaders and government officials who were there to receive him.
These included Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Defence Production Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Aviation Adviser Mushahidullah Khan and other party leader and government officials.
The court is hearing three corruption references against the Sharif family in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case.
At the last hearing on October 26, the court had issued Nawaz’s bailable arrest warrants.
A number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers and leaders were at the airport to greet the party president and former premier.
On Wednesday, in an interview Nawaz asserted that he is ready to face any court and did not shy away from facing the ‘Whatsapp JIT’ and the Supreme Court bench that made references to ‘Sicilian Mafia’ and ‘Godfather’.
He said despite his wife being seriously ill, in respect of Pakistan’s judicial system he was appearing before the courts, despite knowing well, that the accountability process is a political sham aimed at executing further revenge, not justice.
