Islamabad(June 28, 2018): Hearnig of Avenfield to resume today in the NAB Court on Thursday against Sharif Family. Judge Muhammad Bashir will hear the case.
Legal Counsel of Nawaz Sharif completed his final arguments in the case yesterday, while in today’s hearing counsel of Maryam Nawaz, Amjad Pervez will start recording his final arguments in the case.
Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz will not appear before the court, as the three days exemption to the sharif family has ended today. Counsel of Sharif family will file free plea for the exemption from the court’s appearance on behalf of the sharif family.
Earlier, Accountability Court on Monday approved 3-days exemption to former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz from the court appearance.
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Judge Muhammad Bashir heard the case, in which counsel of Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Haris appealed the court to grant exemption of 7 days to Nawaz Sharif and his daughter due to the illness of Kulsoom Nawaz, but court approved exemption of 3 days only.
Earlier on, Khawaja Haris claimed that the prosecution has failed to establish its case and it is a fit case for acquittal.
Advocate Khawaja Haris covered different aspects of the reference and also quoted a number of legal precedents to support his claim that the prosecution has miserably failed to substantiate the allegations, hence the onus of proof could not be shifted to the accused person.
Mr Haris said Wajid Zia, the head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which probed Panamagate, admitted that Nawaz Sharif’s children were not dependent on him instead they were dependent on their grandfather, Mian Mohammad Sharif, even for their pocket money.
While reading from Wajid Zia’s statement and cross-examination, Mr Haris said that NAB’s key witness initially said the JIT had decided not to send a questionnaire to any witness, but later sent it to Freeman, in whose presence trust deeds were signed in February 2006, but the questionnaire was not sent to the Qatari royal despite his request.
He said the Qatari royal never refused to cooperate with the JIT but it was the investigation team that avoided recording his statement.
Mr Haris argued that foreign documents, including letters that came from Financial Investigation Agency (FIA) of the British Virgin Island (BVI) and Dubai authorities, do not fulfill the criteria set in the Qanun-i-Shahadat (Law of Evidence).
‘Will Return To Pakistan After Improvement In Kulsoom’s Health’
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif Saturday said that he would return to Pakistan after improvement in the condition of his wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who has been under treatment in London for past few months.
Speaking to newsmen outside the Harley Street Clinic, the former premier said that his wife was struggling for her life.
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“Can I think of going back to Pakistan under such circumstances when Kulsoom is on ventilator? Do you think I should return to Pakistan leaving behind my wife in such a condition?” he asked reporters.
“[We] will decide about going back to Pakistan once Kulsoom’s health improves in next few days.”
The Cases:
SC extends the deadline of corruption cases against Sharif family by two months
Nawaz and his family are facing three corruption cases in the accountability court after NAB filed references against them in light of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case.
The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017.
The corruption references, filed against the Sharifs, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Limited, 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 Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.
The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
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, the deadline was extended twice more, with the new date falling at July 10 now.
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