Toshakhana reference: Nawaz given last chance; Zardari's warrants sent to NAB.

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday advertised summons for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and sent bailable arrest warrants for former president Asif Ali Zardari to the National Accountability Bureau.

The Toshakhana reference accuses Nawaz and Zardari of bending the depository's rules for their own benefit to retain luxury gifts, for which they were facilitated by co-accused former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani.

An advertisement for Nawaz's summons has been put up on the court premises. The court has given the former prime minister one last chance and asked that he appear before the court on August 17 to answer for the reference filed against him.

Proceedings to declare Nawaz a proclaimed offender are underway. Judge Asghar Khan's court started the process to declare Nawaz Sharif as an absconder due to his continuous absence. The court observed that Nawaz is 'deliberately' avoiding appearing in the court.

Meanwhile, arrest warrants for Zardari were also issued and sent over to NAB alongside bail bonds of Rs50,000. The court noted Zardari's continuous absence in hearings. He is required to present before the court the Rs 50,000 surety bonds and one guarantor. If he fails to do so, he will be arrested and produced before the court. It may be noted that on June 30, the court had issued bailable arrest warrants for Zardari and started the process to declare PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif an absconder in the Toshakhana reference. Gillani, who had been attending court hearings, sought exemption when he contracted the coronavirus. His son, Kasim Gilani, has blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan and NAB for his father contracting the illness due to court appearances.

Meanwhile, an accountability court on Tuesday postponed indictment of former president and co-chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in money laundering case. Proceedings on plea bargain of one of the accused in the case could not be...