Nawaz, Maryam to leave for London on Dec 5

ISLAMABAD (APP): Disqualified premier Nawaz Sharif is to leave for London on Tuesday along with daughter and a leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz and Capt (r) Safdar, his son-in-law.

Members of the former first family of Pakistan are to spend few days in their posh Mayfair residence after an accountability court exempted Nawaz Sharif from appearing in hearings for a week.

The court heard corruption references against the ousted premier over Avenfield properties, Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment companies.

During the proceeding today headed by Justice Mohammad Bashir, statements of the witnesses Malik Tayyab Mukhtar and Umar Daraz were recorded while Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz reached the court at 03:00pm.

The hearing is to be resumed tomorrow December 5 (Tuesday).

On the other hand, in another development concerning legal battle of the former premier, Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected his petition seeking to merge all accountability references against him. The court has directed accountability court to continue trial against the Sharif family.

Earlier in November, a like petition filed by Nawaz with accountability court was rejected and he was indicted in three corruption cases.

During the last hearing at the accountability court, no statements of witnesses were recorded as counsel for the defence had contested that IHC is yet to give verdict over Nawaz s plea to merge the references.