Judge in plot allocation case claims that Nawaz was a "victim of political victimisation"

 In a case involving the alleged improper distribution of properties in 1986, an accountability court in Lahore on Thursday delivered a thorough decision clearing former premier Nawaz Sharif, noting that the record showed that he had "become the victim of political victimisation."

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said in its reference that Jang Group owner Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman had unlawfully secured exemption of 54 plots, each measuring one kanal and located in Block-H, Johar Town, when the PTI was in office in 2020. It claimed that the land assignment had taken place in 1986 against the exemption policy and the regulations for financial advantage in collusion with the then-chief minister of Punjab, Nawaz.

Due to his repeated absences from court appearances, the PML-N supremo has been designated a proclaimed offender in the case.

Nawaz was exonerated by Judge Rao Abdul Jabbar last month, while Rehman was exonerated in the case in January 2022.

Judge Jabbar's thorough decision, a copy of which is accessible at Dawn.com, said that the required steps for designating someone as a proclaimed criminal had not been taken.

According to the judgement, a person may only be designated a proclaimed offender under Section 87 of the Code of Criminal Procedure if the court was convinced after hearing the process server's testimony, who carried out the warrant execution at the accused's residence and completed all other procedures.

"In this case, there is no information in the record as to who issued the warrants, publications, or documents carrying the information directing the accused to appear in court. The absence of this criterion renders the entire process unlawful and illegal.

The judgement also made reference to a previous judgement and stated that precedent shown that there were prerequisites for the issuing of a proclamation, namely that procedures should have started when the accused had not left the country and that he was in hiding to avoid being brought to justice.

"The entire proceeding becomes illegal and void ab-initio if the accused had already left the country before any notice, summons, warrant, or proceeding was issued to appear before the court of law."

The judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

The judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.

TheThe judge stated that it was "not in line with the parameters settled and followed by the apex court" for the court to pronounce Nawaz a proclaimed criminal in this instance.

According to the judgement, Nawaz was entitled to the same remedy as the primary defendant Rehman in the case due to "having a lesser role and on a better legal footing as compared to the acquitted co-accused".

"The record reflects that the accused Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had been subjected to political victimisation, and it's possible that the NAB authorities were forced to prepare the reference at the behest of the then-ruling junta in order to harm and destroy the accused's political carrier and goodwill, who had been three times elected prime minister of Pakistan," said the NAB.