ISLAMABAD – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s Additional Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi asserted on Thursday that former premier Nawaz Sharif was the actual owner of the flats in the upscale neighbourhood of London.
The official continued his arguments in the Avenfield reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau and stated that the accused did not justify the sources for acquisition of the London flats.
He argued that the prosecution’s job was to prove that the properties were in possession of the accused standing trial under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO); it did prove the accusation.
Sardar contended that whatever sources the accused provided to the court have already been rebutted and proven ‘fake’ adding that the onus of proof was on the accused now.
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The NAB official remarked that Nawaz and his family hid their ownership through offshore companies adding that there were no records to show that bearers shares were transferred from Prince Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani to Hussain Nawaz, as claimed by the former ruling family.
Abbasi also spoke on the issue of Qatari prince and denied the allegations that the Qatari prince was threatened.
Referring to letters of the Qatari royal and final settlement of London flats in 2006, Abbasi said that the arrangement between former prime minister Sharif’s father, Mian Muhammad Sharif, and the royals has already been disapproved by the six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
‘Sharif’s sons Hussain and Hassan went to London in early 1990s and resided in the said apartments in 1993 and 1994, respectively,’ disclosed the official.
He went a mile more and said the accused did not disclose ownership of the flats till 2006 as it was made mandatory by law to do so.
Nawaz, Maryam seek exemption
Earlier in the day, Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz sought a five-day exemption – from June 11 to June 15 – from appearance before accountability court.
The petitioner stated that they wanted to travel to London to meet the ailing Kulsoom Nawaz; a new medical report of Kulsoom Nawaz was also attached to the petition.
However, the request was turned down by Judge Muhammad Bashir.
Nawaz challenges court’s verdict in IHC
Former premier Nawaz Sharif challenged the accountability court’s verdict to dismiss his petition regarding hearing the final arguments of three references together, in the Islamabad High Court.
The petition states that the prosecution’s star witness Wajid Zia, who is also a witness in all three references, can improve his testimonies in other two references.
“All three references should have been heard together.” pleaded Sharif in his petition.
Cases Against Sharifs
The Avenfield reference, pertaining to the Sharif family’s London properties, is among three filed against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last year on the Supreme Court’s directives.
The other two references are pertaining to Gulf Steel Mills, Hill Metal Establishment and the offshore firms owned by the embattled family.
Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are named in the Avenfield reference only.
Hussian and Hassan Nawaz are UK-based and have been absconding since the proceedings began last year, however, the former premier has been showing up regularly before the court of judge Muhammad Bashir.
