Federal cabinet takes important decision over Sharif family trial
Shares
ISLAMABAD – The federal cabinet decided on Tuesday to conduct the hearing of Al-Azizia and Flagship references against Sharif family in open court.
The corruption references were filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in line with the Supreme Court judgment in Panama Papers case.
The decision was taken in a meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday. The federal cabinet will tomorrow cancel the notification of the PML-N supremo’s jail trial, reported Dunya News.
Earlier, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification saying the trial of Sharif family in two remaining corruption cases will be held in Adiala jail.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (b) of section 16 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (XVIII of 1999), the federal government is please to specify the Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi, to be the place where the Accountability Court-I, Islamabad shall sit for trial of References No. 18/2017 and 19/2017 against Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and others,” the notification read.
The anti-graft watchdog had filed three references against Nawaz and his children – Hassan, Hussain and Maryam Nawaz – and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar. The cases pertain to Avenfield flats, Al-Azizia Stell Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies.
Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references – Hill Metal establishment, London flats and offshore firms – whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar are named in the Avenfield reference only.
NAB’s Rawalpindi branch prepared references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and nearly a dozen companies and made Nawaz Sharif and his sons respondents.
