ISLAMABAD – An accountability court is set to hear two corruption references against convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif today.
The former premeir has been shifted to the federal judicial complex in armoured vehicle for attending the hearing of the cases related to Al-Azizi Steel Mill and Flaghship Investment, and other offshore companies.
Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik has also summoned star prosecution witness Wajid Zia, who headed the Panamagate joint investigation team, to record his statement.
At the last hearing, both the references were heard simultaneously and Zia was cross-examined in the Al-Azizia reference. The head of the Panamagate JIT has yet to record statement in the Flagship investment case.
Nawaz’s counsel, Zafir Khan, had submitted an application to get Zia’s statement recorded in the Flagship reference. But, the prosecution opposed it stating that Zia’s statement in second reference will be recorded after the cross-examination of Zia in Al-Azizia case.
The judge rejected the plea and adjourned the hearing of the two references till today.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three references – Avenfield case, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flaghsip Investment – against Nawaz, his children – Hassan, Hussain and Maryam Nawaz – and the son-in-law in the light of the Panamagate verdict.
The accountability court I had announced the verdict in the Avenfield case awarding sentences to Nawaz, his daughter and son-in-law.
Later, the remaining two references were transferred to the accountability court II on the orders of the Islamabad High Court after Sharif filed a plea in this regard.
