NAB court seeks another extension to conclude Sharif family trial
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ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday has resumed hearing of Al-Azizia reference against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier on last Friday, Accountability court sentenced Nawaz, daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar to jail in the Avenfield properties reference. NAB court had announced 11 years sentence to Nawaz Sharif, 8 years to Maryam in Avenfield reference on Friday.
During the hearing, Khawaja Haris, legal counsel of Nawaz Sharif objected on the hearing of remaining two references against Nawaz Sharif after having given his verdict in one case.
Judge Mohammad Bashir remarked during the proceedings, that the Supreme Court’s latest deadline [of July 10] to conclude the cases is ending and adding that it is his job to write to the apex court to increase the deadline once more.
Khawaja Haris argued that the judge cannot hear these cases as he has already given a verdict against his client in one reference and asked the judge to mention his objection in the letter to the apex court.
Nawaz’s counsel cross-examines Wajid Zia in Al Azizia reference
He added that Nawaz and Mayam are returning to the country on Friday and pleaded that the hearing be adjourned until July 16.
The hearing was then adjourned until July 12.
After the court’s verdict against Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar in the Avenfield reference, the remaining cases pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies including Flagship Investment Limited.
Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.
The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
The court originally had a deadline of six months which ended in mid-March but was extended for two months after the judge requested the apex court.
Later, the deadline was extended twice more, with the new date falling on July 10.
