Bailable arrest warrants issued for Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, piling more pressure on his ruling party as it seeks a way forward ahead of next year’s general election.

Sharif’s defence lawyer Zafir Khan told AFP that Pakistan’s accountability court issued bailable warrants for the former leader in two cases of alleged corruption on Thursday.

In late July the Supreme Court made Sharif the 15th premier in Pakistan’s 70-year history to be ousted before completing a full term, after a corruption investigation against him.

It also barred him from holding political office, effectively taking him out of the running ahead of general elections due to be held by the



end of 2018. Some analysts have already warned the party could lose seats in the vote.

The claims against the prime minister stemmed from the Panama Papers leak last year, which sparked a media frenzy over the luxurious lifestyles and high-end London property portfolio owned by his family.

Sharif had been due to return to Pakistan from London, where his wife Kalsum is undergoing cancer treatment, but instead flew to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia several days ago, according to local media.

He has not returned to Pakistan since he was indicted in the corruption allegations earlier this month, despite reports he would do so.

The next hearing is scheduled for November 3, his lawyer Zafir Khan said.