World | Pakistan

Pakistan prosecutor seeks to reopen Sharif graft cases

A Pakistani prosecutor said on Tuesday he wanted corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif taken up by the courts in a move Sharif's party said was politically motivated.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 23:15 September 2, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Sharif says the corruption charges, filed against him after he was overthrown in 1999, were politically motivated.
  • Image Credit: EPA

Islamabad: A Pakistani prosecutor said on Tuesday he wanted corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif taken up by the courts in a move Sharif's party said was politically motivated.

Sharif, ousted as prime minister by then army chief Pervez Musharraf in 1999 coup, returned from exile in October and led his party in a February election in which it came second to the party of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Sharif pulled his party out of a coalition with Bhutto's party last week, compounding investors' worries about political turmoil that has triggered a slide in Pakistan's financial markets.

Sharif says the corruption charges, filed against him after he was overthrown in 1999, were politically motivated. But a prosecutor for the state anti-graft agency, the National Accountability Bureau, said he had asked a court to review an August 21 decision to put off indefinitely a hearing into three corruption accusations against Sharif. "We have asked the court to review its decision ... and fix a date for the hearing," the prosecutor, Zulfiqar Bhutta, said.

He denied there was any political motive for the request. The move to press on with the case comes days before presidential election.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. Sharif aide alleges political motives

    Sharif aide alleges political motives

    Sharif aide alleges political motives

  2. Judges will be reinstated: Gilani

    Gilani says deposed judges will be reinstated

  3. Sharif plans bid for parliament

    Sharif plans bid for parliament

    Nawaz Sharif tells Gulf News what he thinks about Musharraf and politics

  4. Eight opposition lawmakers back Zardari

    Eight opposition lawmakers support Zardari

  5. Government won't last long - Sharif

    Government won't last long - Sharif

    Government won't last long, says Pakistan Muslim League chief Sharif

  6. Pakistan pursues cases against Sharif

    Pakistani prosecutors pursue cases against Nawaz Sharif

More from Pakistan

  1. Suicide attack in Pakistan kills 8

  2. House proposal to ensure peace in restive Balochistan

  3. Pakistan army action to end ahead of schedule

  4. Minister denies rift between PPP, MQM

All articles in Pakistan

More from World

Gulf News
Popular in World

More from world

News Editor's choice