ISLAMABAD – Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were granted a four-day exemption from physical appearance in the Avenfield reference by the accountability court.
Captain (r) Safdar, the son-in-law of former premier Nawaz Sharif appeared before the accountability court in Islamabad by the National Accountability Bureau.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were also scheduled to appear before Judge Muhammad Bashir, however, the duo is in London to inquire after Begum Kulsoom Nawaz – whose condition has been declared highly critical.
Sharifs counsel had requested a week-long exemption however, the judge Muhammad Bashir turned down the request and instead granted the relaxation for four days.
Before Eid ul Fitr, Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris had rescued himself from the case, citing ‘strict’ restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court, however, he has resumed representing the former first family.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/verdict-before-july-25-elections-a-need-or-compulsion-asks-nawaz-sharif/
In a written note to the apex court, Haris said that the top court had not accepted his viewpoint on the three references. “As a professional lawyer, I think the concluding arguments for all of the three references could be presented together,” he maintained.
The lawyer further remarked that he was dictated to work beyond court hours and during off days – Saturday and Sunday.
The accountability court had granted Nawaz Sharif time until today to rope in a lawyer.
The Avenfield reference, pertaining to the Sharif family’s London properties, is among three filed against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last year on the Supreme Court’s directives.
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.
