Islamabad (October 10, 2018): NAB Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of Al Azizia Steel Mills reference against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif till Tomorrow, soon after Khawaja Haris completed cross-examination of NAB’s last witness Mehboob Alam.
Nawaz Sharif appeared before the court of Judge, Arshad Malik, cross-examination of Mehboob Alam continued on the last 10 hearings of the case.
After the adjournment of the reference, Nawaz Sharif left the court.
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Earlier on October 08, Accountability Court accepted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s plea for one-day exemption from the court appearance in Al Azizia Steel Mills Reference.
Nawaz Sharif sought a day exemption from the court appearance in Al Azizia Steel Mills Reference.
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Earlier on September 05, investigation officer of NAB presented the record of the letters, written for the record in the case, MLA did not reply, but it was decided to present the letters in the court.
The court said there is nothing in these letters, which should be kept in secret.
The court will resume the hearing of the case on Monday, Khawaja Haris will continue cross-examination from IO.
Earlier, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reached the court to appear in the reference filed against him on the directives of the apex court.
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As soon hearing went underway, Khawaja Haris raised the issue of Director General of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi Irfan Mangi’s meeting with the judges hearing corruption references against the Sharif family a day earlier.
“There were reports in media about DG NAB Irfan Mangi meeting with judges yesterday. We should refrain from such situations,” Haris said.
To this Judge Malik remarked, “I had summoned DG NAB and had asked him to meet me the day before yesterday, however, he left after waiting for some time which is why we met yesterday.”
Further, the judge said, “I had summoned Irfan Mangi in an official capacity. I did not speak to him about the case. The only mention of the case in our conversation was that I could not meet him the day before yesterday owing to an engagement.”
“There were some issues with remand of NAB suspects and I told Mangi to solve them otherwise he would be in trouble,” the judge further clarified.
“For the media, it might be a huge issue of Mangi meeting judges, however, it is not for us,” Judge Malik added. 
Earlier on October 04, Mangi arrived at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad, where he met with accountability court judges Mohammad Bashir and Arshad Malik.
Sources said the meeting took place in the chamber of Justice Malik after the time for judicial proceedings had ended. The meeting lasted for the one-and-a-half hour.
the accountability court in Islamabad deferred trial proceedings in the Al-Azizia reference against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif after the exchange of hot words between the defence counsel Khawaja Haris and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor.
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The former prime minister was in court to attend the hearing. However, he did not speak to the media on his way in or out of court.
The court ordered the investigative officer to present the copy of reminders written by the court to NAB in next hearing.
Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris who could not appear before the court on last hearing due to his illness continued his cross-questioning to investigation officer Mehboob Alam.
Investigative officer Mehboob Alam presented the copies of the letters written to FIA and NAB, on which Khawaja Haris asked that had you confirmed the JIT report on the law of Shahadat and had there was the name of attesting person?
The NAB prosecutor raising objection said, “Will we ask the SC who had attested the report,” instantly replied Khawja Hairs, “Ye we have to ask from SC as it has presented witness against them.
Submitting the copy of the letter written to the prosecution department NAB prosecutor said that they have written a similar letter to each department and did not mention particularly JIT. He further said that during the receiving the copy of JIT it revealed that the date of issuing and demand was not mentioned even the name of attesting person was also not written on the report. 
Khawaja Haris alleged, during the hearing, that NAB prosecutor and lawyer have told a lie regarding the letter written to FIA and NAB. On which brief skirmish was witnessed between Khawaja Haris and NAB prosecutor.
NAB lawyer Akram Qureshi alleged, ” Your client, Nawaz Sharif, had looted the entire country but you are saying he is innocent,” the between Khawaja Haris in his sharp reply said. Your playing politics in court, announcing verdict before its announcement we are thieves we will file plea against you.”
Court asked the NAB if it has any objection on the secrecy of the letters court will take the decision over its secrecy. The hearing was adjourned till today, Friday.
Earlier on October 03, Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik heard the corruption reference against the former prime minister filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Nawaz Sharif appeared before the court along with his legal team.
The NAB IO informed the court during the cross-examination that he had written letters to the departments concerned, including the Federal Investigation Agency and NAB to seek assets details of the former prime minister but no reply was received.
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He did not have the copies of those letters and no reminders were served to the departments, he added.
On which, the court ordered the prosecution to submit two copies of each letter with it.
Mehmboob Alam also produced the transcript of Nawaz Sharif and Hussein Nawaz’s TV interview in the court.
Background
The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.
On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference.
Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were 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.
On July 10, the Supreme Court granted another six-week extension for Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir to conclude the remaining corruption references against Nawaz and former finance minister Ishaq Dar.
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