ISLAMABAD – Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday appeared before an accountability court hearing corruption references against him and family members.
Accountability court judge Arshad Malik is hearing the Al-Aziza graft case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
At the last hearing on Oct 12, Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris asked the court to summon the investigation officer, the last prosecution witness, in the Al-Azizia case as he wanted to ask him some more questions. The accountability judge approved the request and summoned the IO on Monday.
The court also summoned Wajid Zia, head of the Panamagate joint investigation team (JIT), to record his statement in the Flagship Investment case today.
On Oct 11, the accountability court rejected NAB’s request to record former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement under Section 342 of NAB Ordinance in Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference.
Khawaja Haris had opposed the request and contended that it was their stance from day one that they wanted the judgment in the remaining cases together. He argued that it was decided that the statement of Zia will be first recorded in the Flagship Investment case.
Sixth Extension
The supreme court has granted the sixth extension in the deadline to the accountability court probing the former ruling family to conclude the references filed by the National Accountability Bureau.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/nab-court-granted-sixth-extension-in-deadline-to-conclude-cases-against-sharifs/
The top court has now fixed November 17th as the final date for concluding the references filed in line with the directives of the court in the Panama Papers Case.
During the hearing of the case by a three-member bench on Friday, the counsel for Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Haris pleaded that a six-weeks time should be granted, however, the chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that the court was willing to grant two-weeks time.
The Cases
As many as three references have been filed against the former premier in line with the directives of the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case verdict.
The elder Sharif was sentenced to ten years in prison by the accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir, in the Avenfield reference, however, the conviction was suspended by a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court.
Besides Al-Azizia reference, another reference regarding the Flagship Investment firm has also been filed by the accountability watchdog against the members of the former ruling family including Nawaz Sharif.
