ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday has resumed hearing ofAl-Azizia reference against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier on last Friday, Accountability court sentenced Nawaz, daughterMaryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar to jail in the Avenfieldproperties reference. NAB court had announced 11 years sentence to NawazSharif, 8 years to Maryam in Avenfield reference on Friday.
During the hearing, Khawaja Haris, legal counsel of Nawaz Sharif objectedon the hearing of remaining two references against Nawaz Sharif afterhaving given his verdict in one case.
Judge Mohammad Bashir remarked during the proceedings, that the SupremeCourt’s latest deadline [of July 10] to conclude the cases is ending andadding that it is his job to write to the apex court to increase thedeadline once more.
Khawaja Haris argued that the judge cannot hear these cases as he hasalready given a verdict against his client in one reference and asked thejudge 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 andpleaded 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 Avenfieldreference, the remaining cases pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills andHill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies including FlagshipInvestment Limited.
Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three referenceswhereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar were accused in theAvenfield reference only.
The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedingsbegan last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
The court originally had a deadline of six months which ended in mid-Marchbut was extended for two months after the judge requested the apex court.
Later, the deadline was extended twice more, with the new date falling onJuly 10.