ISLAMABAD – Accountability judge, Muhammad Bashir has excused to hear thecorruption references against former premier Nawaz Sharif and his family.

Bashir earlier announced the verdict on Avenfield properties of Shariffamily sentencing Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in prison and his daughter toseven years in the jail.

The judge, Muhammad Bashir wrote a letter to IHC requesting the court tomove corruption reference to some other court, Dunya News reported.

The letter was written to IHC Chief Justice two days back.

“Nawaz’ lawyer also not satisfied with me so cannot resume hearing in suchcircumstances” the letter read.

Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Capt (r) Safdar on Monday filed an appealin the IHC challenging the accountability court verdict in the Avenfieldproperty reference.

Earlier, the accountability court rejected on Thursday the petition, filedby former premier Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, pledging to transfer thecorruption reference of Al-Azizia Steel Mills against the Sharif family toanother accountability judge.

Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all threereferences – Hill Metal establishment, London flats and offshore firms –whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar are named in theAvenfield reference only.

NAB’s Rawalpindi branch prepared references regarding the Azizia SteelMills and nearly a dozen companies and made Nawaz Sharif and his sonsrespondents.

Hussain and Hassan Nawaz are UK-based and have been absconding since theproceedings began last year.