Khawaja Harris, counsel for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Monday told the accountability court that he will not proceed further in the Al-Azizia case until an application filed by him with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against ‘record tampering’ by Judge Arshad Malik is decided.
As the hearing resumed, Harris stated that the IHC had issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for September 4 and that he could not continue cross-examination until his application is decided.
The judge suggested to leave the disputed portion and continue cross-examination, but Nawaz’s counsel declined and said he had cooperated in a similar manner previously but it affected the IHC proceedings.
The accountability court judge subsequently adjourned the hearing of the Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment reference till September 4 (today).
During the last hearing, Harris had accused Judge Arshad Malik of record tampering while cross-examining the JIT head in the Al-Azizia reference. Several prominent leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, governor Punjab Rafique Rajwana and Pervaiz Rashid were present in the courtroom. Former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and a prominent leader of the lawyers’ movement, Ali Ahmad Kurd, was also present in the courtroom and had a long discussion with Nawaz Sharif.
Published in Daily Times, September 4th 2018.
