The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has officially concluded six corruption inquiries, among them the Sharif Trust case involving Nawaz Sharif and his family. The decision was reached during the Executive Board Meeting on January 1, 2024, chaired by NAB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt.
The Sharif Trust case, authorized on March 31, 2000, alleged that the Sharif family received illicit funds through the trust. The complaint further accused the family of misappropriating funds, avoiding audit scrutiny, and acquiring assets through benami properties held in the trust’s name.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), formed to probe the Panama Papers, criticized NAB for delayed investigations into the Sharif Trust case in a report submitted to the Supreme Court. The JIT recommended swift action, urging NAB to complete the investigation.
Under Section 31-B of the National Accountability Act, 2022, as amended by the PDM-led government, NAB terminated the investigation. This section allows the Chairman, NAB, to withdraw or terminate proceedings if deemed unjustified.
Additionally, NAB closed the Safe City corruption case against Islamabad IG Akbar Nasir Khan, the Park Enclave Housing Society case against CDA officials, and inquiries into illegal appointments in the federal government and individuals including Shahid Malik, Shahbaz Yaseen Malik, and Saima Shehbaz Malik.
