اردو
  • Witnesses record statements in corruption cases against Nawaz, family

    Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Captain (r) Safdar File photo Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Captain (r) Safdar

    The accountability court hearing three corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family resumed its proceedings on Wednesday.

    Despite being exempted from appearance, the former premier and his daughter, Maryam, are attending today's hearing.

    Four prosecution witnesses have been summoned today to record their statements after two witnesses recorded their statements at the last hearing and were cross-examined.

    Nawaz and his family are facing three corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case.

    Nawaz and his two sons, Hussain and Hasan, are nominated in all three references whereas Maryam and her husband MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are only accused in one.

    Safdar is also present for today's hearing. He arrived after the former premier and his daughter.

    As the hearing began, Maryam submitted a request asking the court to alter her exemption period. The former premier's daughter now seeks exemption from court appearance from December 5, 2017 to January 5, 2018.

    Similarly, Nawaz has now sought from the court exemption from appearance from December 5-12.

    The court is yet to rule on the requests.

    Nawaz's counsel, Khwaja Harris, completed the cross-examination of NAB's witness, Mohammad Rasheed, after he recorded his statement.

    Afterward, NAB's second witness, Mazhar Raza Bangash, then recorded his statement in the Avenfield reference.

    He was cross-examined by Harris and Amjad Pervez, the counsel of Maryam and Safdar.

    The first two witnesses are staffers of a British law firm.

    The third witness, Chaudhry Sugar Mills' Chief Financial Officer Shahbaz Haider, has recorded his statement.

    The court then went into a recess and resumed with the cross-examination of Haider after which the fourth witness will take the stand.