ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Tuesday, after hearing arguments, reserved its verdict in the Avenfield flats reference that was filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the Sharif family after the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case.
The former premier, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar were present in the court.
During the hearing today, conducted by Justice Muhammad Bashir, Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Khawaja Haris raised an objection on the supplementary reference in the Avenfield flats reference, saying there is nothing new in it.
“The reference has been filed in line with the JIT report and no Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) report has so far been filed,” said Khawaja Haris.
According to him, the NAB had said that a supplementary reference would be filed when new evidence is found against the suspects but that is not the case. “The supplementary reference had to be filed in reply to a legal consultation.”
Khawaja Haris stressed that the supplementary reference was not as per the order of the top court and thus could not be accepted.
“The supplementary reference was filed to target Nawaz Sharif and even in that reference, the same allegations – already levelled in the interim reference – were repeated,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer said the reference included the matter from the JIT report.
He continued to insist that “the supplementary reference was submitted on the basis of the statements made by Wajid Zia’s nephew and forensic expert.”
The accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir reserved the verdict after hearing arguments presented by the NAB prosecutor general and former prime minister’s lawyer.
In another reference related to Al-Azizia Company Limited, Director Foreign Office Afaq Ahmed recorded his statements.
The NAB references stem from the July 28 judgment of the Supreme Court on the Panama Papers case. NAB filed one reference against Sharif, Maryam, Hussain, Hassan, and Safdar relating to the Avenfield Properties comprising flat No 16 and 16-A, 17 and 17-A Avenfield House at Park Lane area of London.
The references related to Al-Azizia Company Limited, Hill Metals Establishment, Flagship Investment and other companies are only against the former prime minister and his two sons.
