TERENCE J SIGAMONY

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday decided to summon former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference through ads in newspapers.

A division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the appeals of the Sharif family in the Al-Azizia and the Avenfield Apartments references.

The Foreign Office Director Europe, Muhammad Mubashar Khan, submitted the documents related to service of the arrest warrants to the ex-PM Nawaz Sharif at his residence in London.

He presented the receipts of the arrest warrants, and also the diary number and entry into the registry.

He said that arrest warrants were sent to the United Kingdom through a diplomatic bag.

Earlier, First Secretary Consular Affairs Dildar Ali Abro and Consular Attaché Rao Abdul Hanan recorded their statement through a video link.

Justice Aamir Farooq questioned about the further procedure.

Upon this, Additional Prosecutor General NAB Jehanzeb Bharwana submitted that the next step was to declare Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender.

He contended that three persons had recorded statements regarding implementation a court’s order by the federal government.

Bharwana said now it was clear from the documents that Nawaz Sharif had “intentionally” not received the arrest warrants, and also not appearing before the court; therefore, he should be declared a proclaimed offender.

The court then decided to summon Nawaz Sharif through advertisements in two English language newspapers, The News and Dawn.

The IHC said the federal government would bear all the expenses of giving ads in the newspapers.