LONDON: The British Virgin Islands government has refused National Accountability Bureau’s request for help in probing alleged offences committed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, Maryam, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz.
The NAB sources passed to this correspondent a copy of the letter sent earlier this week by office of the BVI’s Attorney General Chambers to the NAB, making it clear that the BVI authorities will only help if proper information is provided which conforms to the relevant laws of the country – suggesting that the fishing exercise to obtain desired information will not yield results. The latest letter has been written by the Crown’s Counsel Sarah Potter-Washington.
The letter sent by the BVI government to the NAB confirms that Pakistani authorities asked the BVI officials to provide “tax records, bank account information and company records in respect of Mr Nawaz Sharif, his family and named companies.”
The NAB letter sought help of the BVI concerning “criminal investigations into the offence of Corruption and Corrupt Practices” seeking records of Nawaz Sharif and his children.
The BVI authorities wrote in their reply to the NAB that the request, as set out, is not in conformity with the laws of the Virgin Islands. The BVI response explained that the summary of the facts does not provide any background information, showing nexus between the individuals and companies mentioned, and the alleged offence.
