The deadline to wind up trial against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his family in the Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption cases expired on Sunday for the fifth time.
On August 26, the top court had directed the accountability court to decide the remaining two cases against the Sharif family within six weeks. Accountability court Judge Arshad Malik is hearing corruption cases against the former prime minister and his family members. In the Al-Azizia case, the court has so far recorded depositions of all the prosecution witnesses and cross-examination of the investigation officer is currently underway. Nawaz Sharif’s statement will be recorded once the investigation officer’s cross-examination is complete.
Whereas, star witness Wajid Zia, who was head of the Panama joint investigation team (JIT), and the investigation officer are yet to testify in the Flagship reference.
The judge is likely to submit a request to the Supreme Court seeking more time to conclude trial of Nawaz Sharif.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three references against the Sharif family in pursuance of the July 28 order of the Supreme Court that had disqualified Nawaz Sharif from the office of the prime minister.
Published in Daily Times, October 8th 2018.
