ISLAMABAD – Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris on Monday refused toproceed further in the case until an application before the Islamabad HighCourt (IHC) – challenging the accountability court judge’s move toallegedly change a witness statement during cross-examination – is resolved.
The accountability court Judge Arshad Malik subsequently adjourned thehearing of the Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment reference tillSeptember 4 after the former PM’s counsel informed the court regarding thepending IHC application.
Haris stated that IHC had issued a notice to the National AccountabilityBureau (NAB) for September 4 and he could not continue cross-examinationuntil his application is decided.
The judge suggested to leave the disputed portion and continuecross-examination, but Nawaz’s counsel declined and said that he hadcooperated in a similar manner previously and it had affected IHCproceedings.
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During the last hearing, Haris had accused Judge Arshad of “recordtampering” while cross-examining the JIT head in the Al-Aziziareference. Haris had alleged that Judge Malik changed Zia’s statement onthe insistence of NAB’s Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasiwithout providing his client with an opportunity to contest theprosecutor’s assertions.
Several prominent leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab governorRafique Rajwana and Pervaiz Rashid were present in the courtroom.
