NAB court adjourns corruption cases against Nawaz till March 29

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing the corruption reference against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family adjourned the Al-Azizia and Flagship references hearing on Wednesday (today) after the primary witness was not in court to record his statement.

The ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad from Murree to attend the hearing along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three interim corruption references against the Sharif family in September last year in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. The bureau recently filed supplementary references in all three cases as well.

Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director Wajid Zia, who headed the Panama Papers case joint investigation team (JIT), was expected to record his statement in court today.

Wajid Zia has been recording his statement in the Avenfield properties reference against Nawaz and his family, which is being heard separately by the same court.

However, he did not appear in court, reportedly due to official commitments, the hearing was adjourned until March 29 with directions issued to Zia to be present in court at the next hearing.

At the last hearing of the two references on March 14, three prosecution witnesses, Noreen Shahzadi, an employee of a private bank, NAB assistant director Waqar Ahmed and financial expert Sher Khan recorded their statements and submitted relevant documents in court.

The corruption references, filed against the Nawaz Sharif and his family including 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 MNA Capt (retd) 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.