Nawaz Sharif seeks acquittal in Toshakhana reference

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has submitted a petition to the NAB court for his acquittal in Toshakhana reference. 

Former prime minister’s counsel Rana Muhammad Irfan submitted his client’s plea in the court during the hearing of the Toshakhana reference against two previous premiers, Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gilani, and President Asif Ali Zardari.

After receiving the petition from the prosecutor, the NAB asked the counsel to present his argument before the court on May 23.

However, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who is also a party in the case, has been enjoying the presidential exemption.

The court also accepted the exemption request filed by Yousuf Raza Gilani.

On April 30, the NAB submitted a report to an Islamabad accountability court following its order to have Nawaz join the investigation.

According to the report, the vehicle was gifted to the then-premier in 1997 from Saudi Arabia and was submitted in the Toshakhana.

It added the car was later included in the federal transport pool, and in 2008, the then-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani offered Nawaz Sharif to buy the car. 

Moreover, the report said the car was taken from the federal pool instead of Toshakhana.