ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing corruption references againstformer prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family has given yet anotherblow to the Sharif family over their plea to grant exemption fromappearance before court.

Court has rejected on Thursday their request to be exempted from appearance.

Nawaz, daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar had pleadedthe court to be exempted from appearance from February 19 to March 5.

The references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertain tothe Al-Azizia Steel Mills, Flagship Investment Ltd and Avenfield propertiesin London.

The three accused appeared today in the courtroom of Accountability Court-IJudge Mohammad Bashir.

During today’s proceedings, the defence and prosecution presented theirrespective arguments on the three suspects’ request to be exempted fromappearance from February 19 to March 5 as the family has to travel toLondon to visit Nawaz’s ailing wife, Kulsoom.[image: an image]

Nawaz’s counsel pleaded the court to allow his client to travel to London.However, NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Muzaffar Abbasi opposed the pleaciting the nearing of the March deadline by the Supreme Court to wrap upthe case.

Abbasi further stated that Nawaz’s two sons are already proclaimedoffenders in the case.

Moreover, the accused also signed and received the copies of the twosupplementary references filed by NAB against them during the hearing.

The court had earlier reserved the decision on the plea and later rejectedit.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned until February 22.