Islamabad(June 28, 2018): NAB Court hearing the Avenfield reference on Thursday approved a one-day exemption request of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam — who are in London to attend to ailing Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir was hearing the case. NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar was also present in the court.
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As the hearing went underway today, Maryam’s lawyer Amjad Pervez began presenting his final arguments. He informed the court that unlike Nawaz’s counsel, he would not take seven days to present his concluding arguments. “I will complete my final arguments within 3-4 days,” he said.
A one-day request for exemption from appearing in court, filed on behalf of Nawaz and Maryam, was approved by the court.
Pervez then submitted an old medical report of Begum Kulsoom in the court and filed a seven-day exemption request for the defendants. He informed the court that Begum Kulsoom’s new medical report will be received by tomorrow and accordingly submitted to the court.
The exemption request stated that Nawaz’s wife is ill and he is London to attend to her. It further said that Maryam is also attending to her ailing mother.
Earlier on June 25, Accountability Court hearing corruption cases against Sharif Family 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.
Return to Pakistan Linked With Mother’s Health: Maryam:
Daughter of Former premier Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday said that the return of his family to Pakistan linked with the health of her mother.
Begum Kulsoom is receiving medical treatment at the Harley Street Clinic in London, where she was admitted after she had a cardiac arrest on June 14. She has been on life support since.
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Speaking to the media outside the hospital, Maryam said that she would return back to Pakistan on the first available flight as soon her ailing mother’s condition improves.
‘Will Return To Pakistan After Improvement In Kulsoom’s Health’
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif 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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