ISLAMABAD: The accountability court resumed hearing of Al Azizia reference on Monday, which involves corruption charges against Nawaz Sharif.
As the hearing went on, Khawaja Haris, the Nawaz’s counsel, objected to the hearing of judge of the remaining two references against Nawaz after his verdict being given in one reference.
As the hearing went on, Judge Mohammad Bashir in response stated that July 10, the Supreme Court’s deadline to conclude the cases is about to end, saying it is his job to write to the apex court to extend the deadline once more. He also asked the judge to mention his objection in the letter to the apex court.
Haris stated that the proceedings should be continued after the directions from the Supreme Court have been received. He added further,”We wanted all the references to be decided simultaneously”. He also told that hearing should be postponed till July 16 as Nawaz and Maryam will be back by Friday.
The next hearing will be only July 12.
Moreover, Wajid Zia, head of the joint investigation team in Panama case, whose cross-examination began on July 3, was also there for cross-examination.
The remaining cases in which Nawaz and his sons are accused, apart from Avenfield reference case, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies including Flagship Investment Limited. Hasan and Hussain Nawaz have been declared fugitive by the court.
The court’s initial deadline of six months ended in March but was later extended for two months after the judge’s request to the apex court. Though, the date has been extended two times since then.
