Islamabad(June 27, 2018): Hearing of the Avenfield Reference against Sharif family is underway in the accountability court of Islamabad on Wednesday.
Khawaja Haris, the counsel of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is continuing his final arguments in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir.
Forwarding final arguments in the Avenfield Apartments corruption reference in the accountability court (AC), former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmad said the statements of JIT head Wajid Zia and investigating officer (IO) contradicted each other.
Haris said the report of forensic expert Robert William Radley on the trust deeds was a pack of lies and could not be relied upon. “He lied at every step and everything related to him is suspicious and its credibility is questionable given the fact that he is such a forensic expert who examined scanned photocopies of a document instead of original ones, Haris said in a sarcastic tone.
About the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi’s meeting with Radley prior to recording of his statement and cross-examination, Haris said the NAB officials were only allowed being there as observer and they were in no manner allowed to interact with the witness.
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.
Begum Kulsoom’s Health Top Priority: Maryam Nawaz
Maryam Nawaz, the Daughter of Former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that health of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz is a priority, not thinking about politics.
Talking to the newsmen in London outside Harleys Street Clinic, Maryam Nawaz said that improvement in her mother’s health has been stopped due to infection.
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She ruled out rumours that Mian Sahab will not return, added that she and her Father, Nawaz Sharif will return back Pakistan soon after improvement in the health of Kulsoom Nawaz.
‘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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