Islamabad (March 02, 2018): Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has reached the accountability court hearing corruption references against him and his family.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three interim corruption references against the Sharif family in September last year in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. The bureau recently filed supplementary references in all three cases.
Judge Muhammad Bashir will hear the Al-Azizia and Flagship supplementary references in the first half, whereas the Avenfield properties supplementary reference will be heard later.
The AC has summoned three prosecution witnesses and Wajid Zia, head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed by the Supreme Court to probe money laundering allegations against the Sharif family, today.
According to the details, the court summoned the three witnesses in the supplementary Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment Ltd references. Prosecution Witnesses Abdul Manan, Rizwan Khan and Sonail Ajaz will get recorded their testimonies in the court. Whereas Wajid Zia is summoned in Avenfield case today.
Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris will cross-examine the witnesses today. Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar will appear before the court amid tight security. The accountability court (AC) judge Muhammad Bashir will resume hearing of the three corruption references against the Sharif family.
Yesterday, the accountability court hearing a NAB reference against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar in Islamabad had adjourned proceedings till March 02 (Today).
The accountability court conducting corruption proceedings against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the supplementary Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment Ltd references.
During the hearing, five more witnesses have recorded their statements while cross-examination over their statements was also completed while the court has also summoned three more witnesses for next hearing.
The counsel of accused Khawaja Haris requested the court for the recording of the statement of Panama JIT head Wajid Zia saying his statement should be recorded and cross-examination simultaneously in all three references.
“The main motive of this request is to heading the case towards correct direction,” Haris said.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three interim corruption references against the Sharif family in September last year in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. Recently, it filed supplementary references in all three cases.
Earlier, in the morning as the hearing went underway, the court was informed that Nawaz’s primary counsel, Khawaja Harris, is busy in the Supreme Court and will be able to join the accountability court proceedings by 1 pm.
Nawaz’s secondary counsel Ayesha Hamid pleaded before Judge Mohammad Bashir that her client is exempted from appearing again. The NAB prosecutor opposed the plea, saying the accused needs to be present when witnesses record statements as per the law.
However, the judge accepted the plea and adjourned the hearing until 1 pm when eight witnesses named in the supplementary references will record their statements.
As the hearing resumed, witness Naveed-ur-Rehman began recording his statement.
During the recording of statement, Harris and NAB prosecutor Muzaffar Abbasi exchanged heated arguments over the NAB prosecutor’s “constant meddling”, however, the two resolved their differences on the judge’s intervention.
The corruption cases
The corruption references, filed against the Sharif family, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.
Nawaz and sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.
In the Al Azizia and Flagship supplementary references, submitted in court on February 14, NAB had included eight new witnesses, as well as new evidence, including details of offshore companies of Hasan and Hussain.
The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
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