Bailable warrants issued for Nawaz; hearing adjourned until Nov 3

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing corruption references against the Sharif family on Thursday issued bailable warrants for former premier Nawaz Sharif in two references. 

In the third reference, the Avenfield properties case, the court issued a notice to the surety guarantor of Nawaz. 

The hearing was then adjourned until November 3, with the last chance for the former premier to ensure his presence in court. 

As the hearing into the three corruption references began, Nawaz's counsel Khawaja Harris pleaded before Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir that his client should be exempted from appearing in court owing to his wife's illness. 

However, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor argued that Nawaz had to appear today as his earlier exemption period of 15 days stands over and warrants should be issued for his production in court.   

The court accepted NAB's plea and issued bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz in the Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment Limited references and issued a notice to Nawaz's bond guarantor in the Avenfield properties reference. 

Nawaz has not submitted surety bonds in the Azizia and Flagship references whereas he has submitted in the court a Rs5 million surety bond in the Avenfield reference.  

Later, Harris informed the court that they have challenged Nawaz's indictment in the Islamabad High Court which will hear the case on November 2. 

The judge remarked that Harris should plead his client's case on November 2 and then adjourned the accountability court hearing until November 3. 

Earlier, as the hearing began, Maryam Nawaz, the former prime minister's daughter who is accused in the Avenfield reference, reached the court after landing at Islamabad airport in a special plane from Lahore while her husband, MNA Capt (retd) Safdar, arrived at the Federal Judicial Complex before her. 

The former premier was not present in court despite earlier reports to the contrary as he is in Saudi Arabia where he arrived earlier this week from London reportedly en route to Pakistan. 

The first two witnesses of NAB — Sidra Mansoor of Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and another official from the Federal Board of Revenue — were expected to record their statements today but could not do so.

Nawaz's political aides senators Asif Kirmani and Pervaiz Rasheed, State Interior Minister Tallal Chaudhry, Federal Privatisation Minister Daniyal Aziz and other government officials were present inside the court today along with members of the media and NAB officials. 

The counsel for Nawaz's children, Amjad Pervez, was also present in court today.

A number of lawyers and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz members were barred from entering the complex as their name was not on the security officials' list. 

The incident resulted in a scuffle but did not escalate. 

Around 400 police and paramilitary personnel had been stationed in and around the judicial complex for today's hearing.

Last hearing 

The cases have been filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court's order in the Panama Papers case.

At the last hearing on October 19, Nawaz, in his absence, was indicted in the Avenfield properties case alongside Maryam and Safdar.

Nawaz has also been indicted in the two other references against him. 

As Nawaz was in London, he was represented by his legal representative Zafir Khan who heard the charges and pleaded not guilty. 

The references

The NAB has in total filed three references against the Sharif family and one against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the accountability court, in light of the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case verdict of July 28.

The anti-graft body was given six weeks, from the date of the apex court's order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the accountability court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings.

The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.

Court approves Maryam, Safdar's bail; separates cases of Nawaz's sons

Maryam and Safdar are only nominated in the London properties reference. At an earlier hearing, the court also approved Maryam and Safdar's bail in the Avenfiled properties case and ordered them to submit surety bonds worth Rs5 million each.

Safdar was also directed to take the court's permission before leaving the country from now on. The judge also provided a copy of the reference — spread over 53 volumes — to Maryam and Safdar.

NAB's Rawalpindi branch prepared two references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family.

Its Lahore branch prepared a reference on the Sharif family's Avenfield apartments in London and another against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income.

If convicted, the accused may face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets.