ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan granted six weeks to the accountability court to conclude the pending graft references filed against the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Umar Atta Bandial and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan heard the plea on Monday.
The counsel for Sharif family, Khawaja Haris had asked for a three months time to conclude the references pertaining to the Al Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
However, the apex court turned down the plea and set a six weeks time to conclude the references filed in line with the top court’s verdict in the Panama Papers Case.
‘We don’t want to interfere in the proceedings of the accountability court, however, the time sought for extension is too much which cannot be granted,’ remarked the chief justice.
On the other hand, the former premier appeared before the accountability court in the same references where his counsel would cross-examine Wajid Zia, the head of the six-men Joint Investigation team. The elder Sharif was shifted from the Adiala jail under tight surveillance.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/nawaz-sharif-brought-to-accountability-court-as-hearing-of-graft-references-resumes/
Nawaz Sharif had been sentenced to 10 years jail term on corruption charges in the Avenfield corruption reference in July by the accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir.
His daughter Maryam Nawaz was ordered to spend 7 years behind bars and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar was jailed for one year in the reference pertaining to the upscale London flats.
The names of the trio have already been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) by the Imran Khan-led government as well, effectively barring any of their offshore visits.
