Nawaz petitions SC to again consider clubbing NAB references

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to again consider clubbing of the three NAB references against him into one. 

Nawaz had earlier petitioned the Supreme Court regarding the clubbing of the references into one but the petition was rejected by the SC Registrar's office which had referred him to the relevant forum. 

The Chief Justice of Pakistan had also dismissed Nawaz's appeal on the registrar's decision rejecting his petition which sought an end to the multiple corruption cases against him. 

The petition filed today by Nawaz has appealed to the apex court to consider the objections raised by the registrar and create a new bench to hear the petition. 

Nawaz in his petition further stated that if a verdict is challenged, then the court has to restart proceedings on the matter. 

The application also stated that the apex court, under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, can also declare any verdict as void, hence the earlier ruling on clubbing the references could be considered as void. 

NAB references

Nawaz is facing three corruption references in the accountability court filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case which led to his disqualification.

The accountability court on November 8 had again dismissed Nawaz's plea seeking the clubbing of three references into one, which was later challenged in the IHC.

At the hearing on November 20, Nawaz's lawyer pointed out similarities between the Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment references, pleading that they be combined.

Nawaz's counsel Azam Nazir Tarar argued before the two-member bench that the accountability court had noted the similarities between the references.

He had stated that the three individuals named as accused in both references are the same, adding that of the 13 witnesses in both references, six are the same.

The lawyer had told the bench that the accountability court had decided against clubbing the three references ─ Avenfield, Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment ─ without waiting for the IHC verdict on the matter.

The bench then reserved its decision after hearing NAB's version on the matter.

On November 14, the IHC had sent notices to NAB on the petition.

Nawaz's petition pleaded the IHC to direct the accountability court “to frame one charge and conduct a single trial” against the Sharif family in the three corruption references.

Nawaz's petition also pleaded the IHC to direct the accountability court “to frame one charge and conduct a single trial” against the Sharif family in the three corruption references.