Avenfield case: Maryam's counsel completes Wajid Zia's cross-examination

ISLAMABAD - The counsel for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif' daughter, Maryam Nawaz, on Tuesday, completed the cross-examination of Wajid Zia, a key prosecution witness in Avenfield case.

Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir resumed hearing of the corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the light of the Panamagate verdict.

The accused including former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar also appeared before the court.

Maryam's counsel Amjad Pervez concluded the cross-examining of Wajid Zia, an additional director at the Federal Investigation Agency who headed the joint investigation team (JIT) in the Panama Papers case, in five days.

As the hearing began, Zia about the various correspondence of the JIT regarding the London flats.

He said that a mutual legal assistance request was sent to British Virgin Island’s attorney general for verification of foreign documents on May 31.

In the MLA, the JIT also sought verified copies of Nelson and Nescol Enterprises and the address of the beneficiary. Details about registered directors, nominate directors and shareholder were also sought in the legal aid request.

The JIT head added that last MLA was sent to BVI on June 23, 2017, seeking verification of the record.

During the hearing, the court rejected prosecution's request to submit three MLA's submitted by as evidence.

Moreover, NAB filed another request in court today to filed the JIT's correspondence with the British government regarding London flats. The court issued notices to the defence and sought replies.

The hearing of Avenfield case has been adjourned until April 20. Wajid Zia has been summoned on April 23 to record statement in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills cases.

Nawaz and Maryam did not attend the last two hearings of the case as they were unable to depart from Lahore due to weather condition.

The case of the Sharif family’s upscale London flats is based on a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the Supreme Court’s directives last year.

As many as three corruption references had been filed against the Sharif family, on the directives of the top court which pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.

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.