ISLAMABAD – Nawaz Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Haris, on Wednesday concluded his arguments before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a petition filed by the jailed prime minister for suspension of the accountability court’s verdict against him in the Avenfield properties reference.
A two-member bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb resumed hearing in this case.
Haris argued before the bench that he had not seen the statement of Joint Investigation Team and prosecution’s witness Wajid Zia regarding Avenfield ownership.
Justice Athar Minallah questioned during the hearing that if a dependent ever convicted in any case to which Nawaz’ counsel Khawaja Haris said the children were never dependent on Nawaz Sharif and there was no such proof on record.
Justice Minuaalh asked if children were also dependent in 1993 to which Khawaja said the grandfather of children was alive at that time and family had a common business.
Khawaja Haris told the court it was written in trial court’s decision that usually chideren are dependent on their parents so Nawaz Sharif was possessor of the properties.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/sharifs-likely-to-challenge-avenfield-verdict-today/
Justice Athar remarked if there was any proof that childeren were dependent on Nawaz sharif to which Haris said no such proof was provided.
Haris told the court that the trial court’s decision was based on assumptions.
NAB prosecutor told the court that he would satisfy the judges over the matter.
The court then adjourned the hearing after listening to the arguments of convicts.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/ihc-seeks-speedy-trial-on-pleas-against-sharifs-conviction-in-avenfield-reference/
On July 6, the trial court handed a 10-year sentence and £8 million (Rs1.29 billion) to Pakistan’s former prime minister in a corruption reference pertaining to Sharif family’s Avenfield apartment in London, UK.
In the 100-page decision, Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir also sentenced Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, to seven years in jail for forgery and making assets through illegal sources in the landmark decision. She has been ordered to pay a fine of £2 million (Rs320 million). Capt (r) Safdar Awan, who is the son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif, was jailed for one year for cheating.
