Court case: Worried Sharif calls close aides

Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has summoned his close aides to London for consultation ahead of his possible indictment on October 19.

Mr Sharif, disqualified by the Supreme Court in July, is expected to return home to appear before an accountability court in connection with a series of corruption cases.

In addition, Mr Sharif will be updated regarding the findings of a committee on the issue of changing the text of the Khatm-e-Naboowat (finality of the Prophethood) declaration in the Elections Bill 2017, it was learnt.

The meeting, summoned by Sharif as the PML-N President, is expected before October 19. The leaders called for the meeting include Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Mushahidullah Khan, Ahsan Iqbal and Zahid Hamid and Senator Pervaiz Rashid. Zafarul Haq is the head of the three-member committee formed by Mr Sharif on the issue of Khatm-eNaboowat oath, while Mushahidullah Khan and Ahsan Iqbal are its members.

The former PM is expected to be indicted during the court proceedings. The sources said Mr Sharif was willing to return to the country to appear before the court on the date but his sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz were unwilling to land in Pakistan to face the trial.

The ex-Premier wanted them to show up at the court, the party sources said.