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Avenfield Ref: Nawaz Sharif Appears In AC Without Counsel

Islamabad (June 12, 2018): An accountability court on Tuesday resumed hearing the Avenfield reference against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who appeared in court without his lawyer. 

Judge Muhammad Bashir, who is hearing the reference, asked Nawaz today if he wanted to hire another legal counsel or continue with Haris — whose recusal request has not yet been accepted.

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To this, Nawaz answered that the decision was not an easy one. “A lawyer worked hard on this case for nine months; it is not an easy decision,” Nawaz told the court.

The deposed prime minister then lamented that his lawyer had informed the court of his inability to work on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Nearly hundred attendances have been marked in the case,” Nawaz lamented. “Is this case going to be heard 24 hours a day and seven days a week?”

“Is there any similar example?” Nawaz questioned. Earlier, Legal Counsel of Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Haris on Monday excused from representing Nawaz Sharif from in the NAB references filed against his family.

Announcing his decision to withdraw his legal services to Nawaz during the hearing of Al-Azizia reference, Haris said the Supreme Court had ‘dictated on completing the trial within a month.’

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In a written note to the apex court, Haris said that the top court had not accepted his stance on the three references. “As a professional lawyer, I think the arguments for all of the three references [against Nawaz and his family] could be presented together,” he observed. The lawyer further remarked that he was dictated to work beyond court hours. Haris was also directed to appear before the court on the weekends, the written note said.

Nawaz’s former legal counsel remarked that he could not continue to work in the present conditions.

The three references are possibly faced with a delay till Nawaz hires the services of another lawyer.On June 08, Deputy Procesucotr General NAB, Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi while recording his statement in Avenfiled Reference said Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif bought Avenfield properties with embezzled money which is why he transferred the ownership to his children.

The Avenfield reference, pertaining to the Sharifs’ London properties, is among three filed against the family by NAB last year on the Supreme Court’s directives.The deputy prosecutor general said Nawaz’s statements were presented in the court as an evidence from the prosecution, which meant to prove that public office holders do not keep illegally earned assets in their name.

He added they have presented direct proofs of Nawaz being actual owner of the London flats.

According to Abbasi, Nawaz said during a public speech that a judicial commission should be formed to probe the source of money with which he bought the London flats.

The NAB official said all the accused, of the Sharif family, admitted to owning the properties but their statements differed when it came to the source with which the flats were bought.

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.

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