ISLAMABAD: The accounta
bility court resumed proceedings against ex-premier Nawaz Sharif and his family in the three corruption cases lodged against them.
Nawaz and his family face three corruption references filed against them by National Accounta
bility Bureau (NAB) under instructions of the Supreme Court’s orders due to its July 28 Panama Papers case verdict.
Nawaz Sharif had reached Islamabad earlier from Lahore arrived from the Punjab House at the court along with daughter Maryam and Safdar.
While responding to a journalist’s query inside the judicial complex about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s bail that was approved by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday, Nawaz said, “the courts have double standards. We are striving against these double standards and will take this struggle to its logical end”.
It is pertinent to mention here that the ATC granted bail to PTI chief Imran Khan due to his first
appearance in court, after being declared a proclaimed offender, in several cases of violence.
Accounta
bility court judge Mohammad Bashir summoned two NAB witnesses on Wednesday namely, Sidra Mansoor who belongs to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Inland Revenue Department Jahangir Ahmed.
Sidra Mansoor who happens to be a witness in the Avenfield reference, recorded he
r statement at the court and informed the judge that she
appeared before NAB Lahore’s team on August 18 2017 year and provided the required documents, Adding that she had also provided NAB with the 2000-2005 audit report
of Hudabiya Paper Mills.
Both the legal representatives of Nawaz Sharif and his children, Khawaja Harris and Amjad Pervez, raised objections that the witness provided photocopies of documents which do not bear official seals and signatures of companies.
After Mansoor completed recording he
r statement and was cross-examined by the counsels, the accounta
bility court judge Mohammad Bashir got the the process of recording of Jahangir Ahmed’s statements who is a witness in the Al Azizia reference case.
Ahmed also submitted the Sharif family’s income tax returns in court.
Later on the former prime minister submitted an exemption from
appearance plea, starting from November 20 extending to a week, due to the ongoing medical treatment of his wife Kulsoom Nawaz in Lo
ndon.
Khawaja Harris stated that Zafir Khan would be
appearing before the accounta
bility court on behalf of the former prime minister during his absence.
The ex-Prime Minister’s daughter Maryam also submitted an exemption request, explaining that her pleader Jahangir Jadoon would
appear on his clients behalf.
The accounta
bility court judge approved the
appearance exemption pleas on Wednesday.
The next hearing of the case is set to take place on November 22, where the said representatives would
appear on behalf of the accused.
The Sharif’s left the court premises while the hearing was under way.
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