Court Halts Toshakhana Proceedings Against President Zardari

An accountability court in Islamabad recently made a significant decision regarding the Toshakhana vehicle reference, halting proceedings against President Asif Ali Zardari due to his constitutional immunity as the head of state. This development comes after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested to end criminal proceedings against Zardari and exonerated Nawaz Sharif in the same case.

The allegations in the Toshakhana reference revolved around the accused obtaining cars from Toshakhana at a fraction of their actual price. Zardari was specifically accused of using luxury cars gifted by foreign governments, while Nawaz Sharif allegedly received a car from Toshakhana despite not holding an official position at the time.

Following the court's decision, arrest warrants were issued for Nawaz Sharif in May 2020, and all three accused individuals were declared proclaimed offenders in September of the same year. Subsequently, in October 2020, the court ordered the confiscation of Nawaz Sharif's property after he was declared an absconder in the case.

In a twist to the case, NAB clarified that the car Nawaz Sharif purchased was not part of Toshakhana when acquired, as it was obtained through an offer from former PM Yusuf Raza Gilani to buy a vehicle from the federal transport pool, not Toshakhana.

Overall, the Toshakhana vehicle reference has seen various legal proceedings and developments involving high-profile individuals. The court's decision to halt proceedings against President Zardari and the subsequent actions taken against Nawaz Sharif have added layers of complexity to the case.