Accountability court adjourns graft case hearing against Nawaz till Tuesday

ISLAMABAD - The accountability court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a corruption reference against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif until tomorrow (Tuesday) due to the absence of lawyers and witlessness.

Judge Mohammad Bashir adjourned the case regarding Al-Azizia Steel Mills after Sharif's counsel and witnesses could not reach the court due to roadblocks in Islamabad.

However, only PML-N representative Captain (rtd) Safdar reached the court. Safdar said that he could not contact anyone including the party leader.

The accountability court is hearing three references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Nawaz and his family regarding London flats, Azizia Steel Mills ans other companies in the backdrop of the Supreme Court's verdict in the Panama Papers case.

Nawaz and his two sons, Hussain and Hasan, have been made accused in all three references whereas Maryam and her husband MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are accused in one case regarding London properties.

At the last hearing, Nawaz and Maryam submitted the requests to the courts seeking change in their exemption period. The former premier's daughter now seeks exemption from court appearance for a month from December 5, 2017 to January 5, 2018.

Similarly, Nawaz has asked court to give exemption from December 5-12.

The court has not announced a decision on the pleas yet.