Witnesses cross-examined, record statement in Sharif family corruption references
December 11, 2017
ISLAMABAD: A witness recorded his statement while the cross-examination of another was conducted today as the accountability court hearing corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family resumed proceedings today.
The court is conducting proceedings on three references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.
As the hearing began early morning, Nawaz's counsel asked the court to delay the proceedings until 11am. The judge accepted the request and adjourned the hearing.
Nawaz's son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar reached the court along with Nawaz's counsel, Khawaja Harris, as the proceedings resumed. Safdar, however, later left the court after marking his attendance.
The former premier is accused in all three references — Al Azizia, Avenfield and Flagship Investment — whereas his daughter Maryam and Safdar are accused in only one: Avenfield (London flats).
Harris then conducted cross-examination of the prosecution's witness, Tayyab Ahmed, who had recorded his statement and presented documents last week.
With regards to the Flagship reference, Nawaz’s counsel demanded a verified copy of the statement recorded by Afaq Ahmed before the Panama case Joint Investigation Team.
The NAB prosecutor said the copy is submitted to the Supreme Court and asked for time to submit the statement to the accountability court.
Moreover, the statement of witness Adeel Akhtar was recorded today.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing of all three references until December 19. It also summoned prosecution witnesses Yasir Shabbir and Shakeel Anjum in the Al Azizia reference at the next hearing.
Nawaz and Maryam are presently in London after being exempted from appearing before the court for selected periods. Their exemption periods end on December 15.
The last hearing of all three references was held on December 4, whereas the court continued hearing the Al Azizia reference daily until Dec 7.
The references
The NAB has in total filed three references against the Sharif family and another against the then-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.
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 Avenfield 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.
