Islamabad (June 07, 2018): Hearing of Avenfield Reference against Sharif Family on Thursday resumed in the accountability court.
Former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and captain retired Safdar appeared before the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir.
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As soon the hearing went underway, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz given the plea for exemption from the hearings of the reference from 11 to 15 June to look after ailing Kulsom Nawaz.
Deputy Prosecutor General of NAB Sardar Muzaffar is continuing his argument. Khawaja Haris will start his final arguments in the case after completion of Sardar Muzaffar’s arguments today.
Yesterday, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, while presenting closing arguments in Avenfield properties case, remarked that the Sharif family failed to prove it source of income.
The prosecutor accused Maryam Nawaz of hiding facts, adding that the accused individuals had tried to mislead investigating agency.
Abbasi further remarked that Hussain Nawaz shifted in the London flats in 1993 and even paid utility bills, while Hasan Nawaz had shifted in 1994.
“Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was the actual owner of Gulf Steel Mills,” he added.
Nawaz who appeared before the accountability court earlier left after marking his attendance.
As the hearing went underway, Maryam and Captain (retd) Safdar’s lawyer Zafar Khan filed a one-day exemption plea for his clients. He informed the court that Safdar was in Mansehra to obtain nomination papers for the elections.
Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir, who was presiding over the case, approved the request.
The hearing was delayed until June 7 (today).
on Tuesday, accountability court dismissed the miscellaneous petition, submitted by the former PM Nawaz Sharif, requesting for final arguments in all the three references against the Sharif family to be heard together.
”You may challenge the verdict in the high court,” remarked Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir after dismissing the petition.
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Earlier, Khawaja Haris, who submitted the petition on Nawaz’s behalf, remarked that the National Accountability Bureau’s claims that the facts in all three references are different are “incorrect”.
“NAB brought Gulf Steel Mills, Qatari letter in all the references,” he said, adding that the witnesses in the references are also the same.
“The final arguments should be postponed till Wajid Zia and investigating officer record their statements in remaining two references,” the petition states.
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Deputy Prosecutor NAB, Sardar Muzaffar is continuing his arguments in the case.
On May 30, Hearing of Avenfield Reference against the Sharif Family was adjourned until June 5, son in law of the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Captain (retd) Safdar completed his statement in the case.
Captain retired Safdar categorically denied his involvement in the reference, with his legal counsel Amjad Pervaiz claiming that many of the business dealings occurred before his marriage to Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz.
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“The letter by Mossack Fonseca does not concern me, it is not a primary document,” he said, adding “this letter cannot be verified as per the law for indictment.
Captain Retired Safdar said that accepting the letter as evidence would be contrary to holding a free trial.
When asked about the Capital FZE certificate, Safdar said that the certificate does not concern him.
“The indictment doesn’t concern me either.”
Yesterday, Captain Retired Safdar while recording his statement in the accountability court of Judge Muhammad Bashir said that his age is 55 years and he is a member of the national assembly since last 10 years.
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He stated that he has nothing to with the Gul Steel Mills, the deal is off before my marriage, when Hussain Nawaz appeared before JIT, I was performing Umrah, he added.
“I have nothing to do with the Avenfield and Hudibiya Paper Mills Cases.” asserted Safdar.
During the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor of NAB raised an objection, when Captain Retired Safdar started to read his written statement, but son in law of the former premier continued to read his statement and said that JIT report is one-sided.
NAB Prosecutor said to Captain Retired Safdar during hearing that it is unfortunate that you have been left alone in the court, by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, on which Safdar said it was my will that when I start recording my statement, no family member should be present in the court.
Corruption Cases:
The corruption references, filed against the Sharifs, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London on the orders of the supreme court.
Nawaz and sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.
The court originally had a deadline of six months which ended in mid-March but was extended for two months after the judge requested the apex court.
Later, on May 9, the trial court’s second plea for a deadline extension was approved by the Supreme Court which gave a month to both sides to finish the corruption cases.
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