Avenfield reference: Accountability Court to hear petitions on submission of new evidence

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will likely to produce new evidences against the Sharif family on Friday in the accountability court hearing corruption reference.

On the directives of Supreme Court, NAB had filed the Avenfield properties reference against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family in 2017.

Private news channel reported that NAB Operations Director General Zahir Shah will be the new witness in the Avenfield properties case and will also submit fresh evidence against the Sharif family which he acquired from the British government.

Nawaz’s counsel has opposed the plea to submit the fresh evidence. The court will hear arguments from both sides on the issue and then decide on the plea.

The NAB investigation officer and DG operations are the last two witnesses in the case after the cross-examination of Wajid Zia concluded over several weeks.

Nawaz and daughter Maryam are presently in London and will thus seek exemption from appearance today.

The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017. NAB to file three supplementary references against Nawaz

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.