Pakistan unable to reach Nawaz Sharif; forced to pay newspapers to tell ex-PM to return

Islamabad High Court on Wednesday summoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif "through newspaper advertisements" as arrest warrants by his representatives were t received in London, according to country's media.   According to Geo TV, court was irked by attitude of Sharif's representatives at his residence in London and ordered advertisements to be posted in Dawn and Jang newspapers.

'Nawaz Sharif must be declared an absconder'

It furr directed federal government to bear cost of advertisements and additional attorney general Tariq Khokhar was asked to pay fees within four days. National Accountability Bureau prosecutor in an "informal conversation" with media said that advertisement's proposed text will state that Sharif has 30 days to return to country.

According to Geo TV, he said that court summons would be pasted outside court premises and former Prime Minister's residence as well. Court has been presented with records regarding both arrest warrants for which "an attempt has been made to serve but proved unsuccessful".  court also said that Pakistan Foreign Ministry must send warrants in a diplomatic bag to Pakistani High Commission "in a diplomatic bag".

Justice Amir Farooq asked about furr course of action would be to bring former Prime Minister back to Pakistan. AB Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzaib Bharwana said that next st would be to formally declare him a fugitive. "It is clear that Nawaz deliberately did t receive arrest warrants," he said. "Nawaz Sharif must be declared an absconder," urged NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbas quoted by Geo TV.

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order followed after an official posted at Pakistani High Commission in London informed IHC that a representative of Sharif had initially agreed to receive arrest warrants but later changed his mind.

court last month issued n-bailable arrest warrants against Sharif during a hearing of his petition requesting exemption from appearing before court. three-time premier, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar were convicted in Avenfield properties case on July 6, 2018. Sharif was also sentenced to seven years in Al-Azizia Steel Mills case in December 2018. But Sharif was bailed out in both cases and also allowed to go to London for medical treatment in vember last year.

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(With ncy inputs)