Former premier Nawaz Sharif indicted in third corruption case

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been indicted in the third corruption reference of Flagship Investment Ltd filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him on the directive of Supreme Court.

The accountability court judge began reading the charges against Nawaz Sharif as the hearing of the accountability court went under way. Nawaz Sharif lawer Zafir Khan heard the charges.

Nawaz Sharif’s sons Hussain and Hasan are declared proclaimed offenders as they were failed to appear before the court in any hearing. Zafir, on behalf of Nawaz, rejected the charges and vowed to contest the case.

The charges stated that Nawaz Sharif remained chairman of FZE capital from 2007 to 2014. Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court over his involvement with the foreign company.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif was indicted in Azizia Steel Mills and the Avenfield properties references on Thursday, in which his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his on son-in-law MNA Safdar were also indicted.

Nawaz, through his representative Zafir Khan, Maryam and Safdar rejected the charges by pleading ‘not guilty’ and vowed to contest the case.

The court has adjourned the hearing of the Avenfield properties and Azizia Steel Mills references until October 26 and directed the prosecution to produce its first witness at the next hearing.

Meanwhile, the former premier, who is presently in London, will be returning to the country on October 22.