ISLAMABAD – Accountability judge Muhammad Bashir has excused himself from hearing the corruption references against former premier Nawaz Sharif and his family members.
Earlier this month, Bashir had announced the verdict on Avenfield properties of Sharif family sentencing Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in prison and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, to seven years in the jail.
On Monday, the judge wrote a letter to IHC requesting the court to move other corruption references against the Sharif family to some other court.
The letter was written to IHC Chief Justice Anwar Kasi two days back.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/nawaz-appeal-to-transfer-case-in-al-azizia-reference-rejected/
“Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer also not satisfied with me so cannot resume hearing in such circumstances,” the letter read.
Also today, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Capt (r) Safdar Awan filed an appeal in the IHC challenging the accountability court verdict in the Avenfield property reference.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/sharifs-likely-to-challenge-avenfield-verdict-today/
Earlier, the accountability court rejected on Thursday the petition, filed by former premier Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, pledging to transfer the corruption reference of Al-Azizia Steel Mills against the Sharif family to another accountability judge.
Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references – Hill Metal establishment, London flats and offshore firms – whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar are named in the Avenfield reference only.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/nawaz-maryam-wait-in-abu-dhabi-as-flight-faces-delay-lahore-in-lockdown/
NAB’s Rawalpindi branch prepared references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and nearly a dozen companies and made Nawaz Sharif and his sons respondents.
Hussain and Hassan Nawaz are UK-based and have been absconding since the proceedings began last year.
