London flats not owned by Nawaz Sharif: NAB surprises court in fresh admission

ISLAMABAD - The investigations regarding the Avenfield Properties reference, filed against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau, took a new twist when bureau's investigation officer revealed that no witness had come forward to show that Sharif was the owner, beneficial owner or benamdar of the London flats.

Imran Dogar informed the accountability court Judge, Muhammad Bashir, that Nawaz Sharif did not even pay for the flats from any of his bank accounts, as per the testimony of witnesses.

Nobody confirmed that Sharif’s son, Hussain Nawaz, was holding the properties as his benamidar or that the deposed premier paid the money for purchasing the four flats, Dogar told the court.

In what could be seen as satisfactory for the embattled Sharif family, the NAB officer admitted that there was no receipt showing acknowledgement of payment for the purchase of the flats by or on behalf of Sharif and no witness stated that Sharif gave any instructions with respect to management of two off-shore companies, Nielson and Nescoll.

Moreover, Dogar acknowledged that there was nothing on record to prove that Sharif had given instructions to the service provider companies for the management of the upscale Avenfield Apartments.

When Dogar's cross-examination started, he informed the bench that the Supreme Court had directed NAB to prepare and file references against the Sharifs and at that time, no response to mutual legal assistance (MLA) requests was received.

During the cross-examination, Khawaja Haris, the counsel for Nawaz Sharif enquired if any member of the Sharif family was associated in the investigation regarding the family settlement.

To this, Dogar replied that no family members of the accused were associated with the investigation.

Haris also asked if Dogar knew who prepared the chart or if he had asked the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) chief Wajid Zia the same.

Dogar replied in the negative.

The investigating officer admitted that no efforts were made to find out who made the chart citing several experts and officials were hired by the JIT while probing the Panama Papers scandal.

The admission of NAB's officer is surprising in the regard that on Thursday, he asserted that during the investigation it was found that the offshore companies, Neilson and Nescol, were owned by the former premier.

Moreover, he had also claimed that the properties were purchased through offshore companies in someone else’s name [to conceal ownership.