ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday cleared former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of any wrongdoing in the investigation related to the Toshakhana reference.

According to the details, the accountability bureau submitted its report on the Toshakhana reference to the Accountability Court (AC).

The NAB investigation report confirmed that Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif did not use a fake account to make payments for purchasing a vehicle from Toshakhana.

The report informed the court that the vehicle was surrendered to Toshakhana in 1997 and was not in Toshakhana’s possession when Nawaz Sharif acquired it in 2008.

Furthermore, the report mentioned that the accountability court has the authority to exonerate former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana reference.

It is important to note that in January 2020, the executive board members in a meeting chaired by the then NAB chairman Justice Retd Javed Iqbal approved three references against former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousaf Raza Gillani, as well as ex-President Asif Ali Zardari on various charges.

Another reference was filed against Anwar Majeed and Abdul Ghani Majeed for paying taxes on luxury vehicles imported via Toshakhana.

The reference alleged that the former president retained luxury vehicles given as gifts from the UAE and Libya instead of surrendering them to Toshakhana, and used fake bank accounts to pay their taxes.

It further stated that former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani showed undue favor to the president and allowed the transfer of vehicles to Asif Zardari during his tenure.

The Toshakhana issue gained significant prominence in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the PTI chief for making false statements and incorrect declarations.

The judgment highlighted that the former prime minister was involved in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution, and criminal proceedings would be initiated against him for filing a false statement.