No documentary proof established Sharif's link with Al-Azizia Mills, Wajid Zia reveals in cross-examination

ISLAMABAD - Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, Khawaja Harris, resumed the cross-examination of prosecution’s star witness Wajid Zia in the Al-Azizia reference against Sharif family,  Thursday morning.

Zia headed the Panama case joint investigation team (JIT) which probed the Sharif family’s assets last year, on the directives of the apex court. He revealed that he did not come across any document during investigation showing that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as the owner of Al-Azizia Steel Mills.

Zia also stated that as per the bank statement, Nawaz’s son Hussain Nawaz sent him an amount worth US$1.1 million as a ‘gift’ from July 5, 2010, to June 30, 2011.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif and his family members are facing three corruption references in the accountability court — Avenfield Properties, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investments — in which they are accused of money laundering, tax evasion and hiding offshore assets.

Zia, who is appearing before the court of accountability judge Muhammad Bashir, has already recorded his statement in both Avenfield and Al-Azizia references against the Sharif family.

For today's hearing, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and captain (r) Safdar turned up in the accountability court; the former premier termed the day historic in an informal discussion with newsmen, owing to the fact that the government was completing its stint.

Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are named in the Avenfield reference only.

Hussian and Hassan Nawaz are UK-based and have been absconding since the proceedings began last year, however, the former premier has been showing up regularly before the court of judge Muhammad Bashir.

* This is an ongoing story and readers would be apprised of latest developments accordingly