The London High Court Monday announced its verdict against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and ordered Pakistan's accountability watchdog to clear dues of Broadsheet Company till August 13.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the court of Master Dawson rejecting the NAB’s arguments also ordered the NAB to pay more than US$122 million to the Broadsheet. The court ordered the NAB that it should make three different payments to the company otherwise the United National Bank's London branch would be forced to pay the amounts.

The court ordered the NAB to pay the amount of 122,203,790 dollars with the extra amount in the head of additional expenses of 2,629,680 sterling pounds. London court has also given an interim order to the lawyers of the Broadsheet saying that the funds should be in the account of NAB lawyers till August 10 and in the account of Broadsheet by August 13.

In case of non-payment to the company within the stipulated period, the interim order would be final and then the United National Bank would be required to transfer secured funds to Broadsheet lawyers' accounts by August 17. The court also criticized the NAB lawyers for not being properly involved in the proceedings.

Former General Musharraf’s regime hired a British company, the Broadsheet to search the assets of the Nawaz Sharif family and other politicians abroad. Pakistan has already suffered a loss of up to $65 million due to breach of contract with the Broadsheet.

Government under fire 

Reacting over the London court’s decision, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Spokesman Faisal Kareem Kundi said the NAB defamed Pakistan in the rest of the world. He said the amount of the fine should be collected from the people who made the agreement with the Broadsheed.

The PPP spokesman also demanded the government that the names of NAB Chairman Justice (Retired) Javed Iqbal and Special Advisor to Prime Minister for Accountability Shehzad Akbar should be included in the Exit Control List (ECL).

Kunda also urged the government to bring the details of the case in the parliament and should also inform the parliamentarians how much fee had been paid to the lawyers. He also demanded shut down the NAB to save national exchequer.

Reporters: Asad Ali Malik, Usman Javed