Avenfield properties case: Nawaz’s counsel concludes Zia’s cross-examination

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Accountability court hearing corruption reference against Nawaz Sharif and his family has resumed hearing on Wednesday.

Khawaja Harris, lawyer of Nawaz Sharif’ concluded the cross examination of Wajid Zia in the Avenfield case on the tenth day today.

Wajid Zia, former head of the joint investigation team (JIT) which probed the Sharif family’s assets last year and Avenfield properties case is among three filed cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last year on the Supreme Court’s directives.

Former premier Nawaz reached the court along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar before the hearing began.

As the hearing went under way, Haris questioned Zia about the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case against the Sharif family, the reopening of which was quashed by the Supreme Court recently.

Later, Haris completed his cross-examination of Zia, after which Maryam’s counsel Amjad Pervez began his cross-examination following a short recess.

The hearing is under way.

Zia earlier recorded his statement over six hearings.

At the last hearing on Tuesday (yesterday), the NAB prosecutor argued that Haris is attempting to delay the case unnecessarily by going in circles during his questioning of Zia.

The corruption references, filed against the Sharifs, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.

Nawaz and sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.